The National Vice President of NACCIMA on international development and President of Badagry Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (BACCIMA) Alhaji Yahaya Oladiran Idris, on Saturday gave thumps up for planned buying of vessels by Dangote Group for transportation of goods within West and Central Africa countries. He said that it will reduce ports congestion and generate more revenue for Federal Government.
Alhaji Idris Yahaya, an expert in Maritime Security, disclosed this in an interview in his office in Badagry, Lagos.
You will recalled recently that Dangote Industries said it has concluded plans to acquire its own vessels to facilitate the movement of its products from Nigeria to other West African and Central African Coasts through Sada Ladan-Baki, Head of International Trade and Export at Dangote Cement, said the company’s decision to acquire its own vessels was driven by the difficulty of securing adequate shipping capacity.
Yahaya said that it’s long overdue, he posited that Alhaji Aliko Dangote have all it takes to own vessels as the owner of Greenview Development Nigeria Limited ( GDNL) in Apapa port and one of the most vibrant terminals.
Reference to when he was in charge of Boarding and Rummaging of vessels in Apapa Port, “Some small vessels like MV Hanna used to bring some containers from Ghana and Togo to Apapa before and after the concession of Apapa port, So, nothing bad, if Dangote group is also chatting that course, I am in total support of the initiative”.
He said that Federal Government would benefit a lot from the project.
“This will lead to trade facilitation and decongest the ports in some areas.
Apart from cement, there are some vessels that have capacity to carry 20,000 metric tons, 30,000 metric tons, 35,000 metric tons, 38,000 metric tons of goods.
“If Dangote consignment is not enough, he can carry other containers to other West African countries where it’s going and as well brings back to the country.
“Some MSMEs in Nigeria and other traders that take their goods through the trucks by road to Ivory Coast, Ghana, Togo, and host of other states can easily turns to the port and quickly take delivery of their goods.
“So when they know that there is a line of vessels from Dangote fleet that can carry it, some of them may prefer to use container to carry their consignments and take it to all those ports,” he said.
The BACCIMA President said the move would generate more revenue from the port to the Federal Government coffer, because there is no way you will go to all those areas without bringing containers.
The vessels would be boarded and rummaged by the Nigeria Customs Service to access duties and taxes and other relevant agencies too would perform their statutory duties, adding that duties and others charges would be paid.
Yahaya said that it would also reduce smuggling of goods along Nigeria land borders.
“Again, don’t forget that we have NIMASA that is in charge of vessels: licensing, inspection and other regulations/ certifications of vessels, and whole lot of others.
“So all the taxes, charges that they are supposed to be paid, they will pay to Federal Government: registration certificate, flying Nigerian flag, all this and that, they will pay.
“Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) will use their tugboats to bring the vessel from high sea or from breakwater to the port, and they will charge their money too,” he said.
The Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC) will also carry out their functions in respect of their establishment Act.
He posited that transportation through the Dangote vessel would also reduce delivery time and cost implications of using trucks for businesses.
“Let me tell you something, about these trucks passing through the borders, It’s not an easy task. Imagine a truck will take off from Lagos to Ghana and spend 5 to 8 days before getting there. They are opened to so many road hazzards.
“And you can’t blame them, because they have to go through border rudimentaries, operations, and documentations.
“So, look at the cost of maintaining four motor boys or four drivers per vehicle. Look at the cost of buying fuel for these vehicles.
“The roads are bad. That is another thing as far as Nigerian roads here are concerned, whether anybody likes it or not.
“Some of these vehicles get damaged on the road, some have accidents on the road. So, if they have accidents in a foreign country, then they face insurance stress of that country,” he said.
On job lost among the trucks drivers, he said the drivers would be assigned to different routes within Nigeria, adding that this development would not affect their jobs.