The Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, has commissioned two tug boats in advance of the anticipated transit cargo from a yet unnamed country in an effort to continue its efforts to lure transit cargoes from landlocked countries.
Vanguard reported that according to NPA’s managing director, Mr. Mohammed Bello-Koko, who made the announcement in Lagos, the transit cargoes are anticipated to arrive in Nigeria within the next ten days. He said that the recently built Lekki Port is ready to accept them.
The purchase of these tug boats, according to Bello-Koko, will shorten the time that ships must wait at the anchorage, which will ultimately result in a shorter dwell time for the cargo.
He also mentioned that certain African nations have expressed interest in using the Lekki port to transit their products through Nigeria. He also claimed that the agency has met with traders and officials from three African nations – Niger, Chad, and Cameroon.
He said that NPA is now collaborating with pertinent organizations to make sure that the proper procedures are in place to make it easier for these transit cargoes to be transported out of Nigeria.
He declared, “By obtaining these tug boats, we have the biggest tug boats in Africa. Simply put, it means that there will be less waiting, which will eventually result in a shorter cargo stay time.”
