Nigerian Firm, Dubai to Build New Port in Lagos
A Nigerian firm, Sifax Group of Companies, is discussing with Dubai Ports Authority, on the establishment of a modern port complex in Lagos.
Managing Director of Sifax Group, Dr Taiwo Afolabi, told newsmen in Lagos that the Dubai authority had shown great enthusiasm in the proposed venture. Afolabi said the port would on completion, be the first direct response of an indigenous company to the Federal Government�s call for development of green fields, to decongest existing ports.
Afolabi expressed regrets that lack of space, slow cargo delivery and government’s inability to establish new ports were major causes of the present congestion at the ports.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that Ports and Terminal Multi-Services Ltd, a subsidiary of the Italian shipping giant � Grimaldi, built the new Roll On/Roll Off (RORO) Port inaugurated in 2006, by former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
Afolabi said a subsidiary of Sifax – Port and Cargo Handling Services Ltd, operators of Terminal `C� at the Tin-Can Island Port, had added value to the nation�s economy by investing about N15 billion, since it took over the terminal in 2006.The terminal operator pointed out that in addition to the huge investments, the subsidiary employed about 3,000 Nigerians.
He said the company had four gantry cranes and 22 cargo handling equipment procured at the sum of $50 million, adding that to ease the pains of congestion, especially for its numerous clients, the company had procured 35 new trucks for transferring containers to bonded terminals, and that additional 100 trucks would soon be bought.
He, however, observed that with the take over of port operations by the port concessionaires, there had been efficient service delivery at the ports.
