Cargo Evacuation By Rail Resumes At Lagos Port

The Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) has resumed rail operations to APM Terminal, in Lagos Port.

The Executive Secretary, NSC, Hassan Bello, said the revival of rail evacuation would help decongest the terminal. It will also allow export cargoes trapped at various private garages and port corridors access the ports through the road. Bello said this at the official flag-off in Lagos.

He said export is key to the growth of the nation’s economy. Therefore, the terminals must be decongested for export goods to gain access into the port.

Bello also disclosed that there is an existing Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) are to be supervised by the Council. This will be for cargo evacuation from the seaport through rail. It was developed by the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), and APM Terminal Apapa.

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He said: “Evacuation of cargoes through the seaports will be done through railway, badges. Eventually, export cargoes will be mandated to come through the roads. This will be because, with rail and badges, the port will be decongested for export to come in through the road.“

Noting that the cost of freighting cargoes is less compared to other modes of transportation, Bello assured that the Council will monitor the process for compliance and sustainability.

His words, “the cost will be reduced because the economy of demand and supply that is the market forces will come in and also right whoever causes a delay in the supply chain will pay because we will monitor the process.“

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The Director, Regulatory Services, Mrs Ifeoma Ezedinma, represented Bello at the event.

The External Affairs Manager, APM Terminals, Daniel Odibe, disclosed that the new SOP will help bridge communication gap that it had experienced with NRC in the past, and ultimately lead to more efficient cargo evacuation through the rail.