The current administration in Nigeria is leaving no stone unturned in its bid to launch effective inter-modal transport system in the country. For instance, the Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) Hadiza Bala-Usman, has flagged-off the first export consignment of manganese, a solid mineral resource from the Ikorodu lighter terminal, in Lagos state.
Addressing guests at the event, Mrs. Bala-Usman said the NPA under her management is keen in driving intermodal transport as part of efforts to further decongest the traffic gridlock on Apapa port axis. She assured that the NPA would partner any agency or private investor who will give priority to intermodal transport, “as the continuous reliance on our roads is no longer feasible and should be discouraged.”
The NPA boss described the event as being of huge economic advantage to the country, pointing out that using barges to ferry containers of solid mineral across the waters to the APM Terminal within Apapa Ports will help to elongate the life of “our roads as this mode of export will be most encouraged. “
Mrs. Bala-Usman called on stakeholders to key into the window of Public Private Partnership (PPP), stating that the occasion further deepens NPA management’s efforts at complying with the federal government’s directives on the Ease of Doing Business at the nation’s sea ports whilst the rehabilitation of the ports access roads at Apapa continues.
The Chief Executive Officer of Connect Rail Services Limited (CRSL), Edeme Kelikume representing the service provider, appreciated the NPA’s role in the provision of the enabling environment for the take-off of the project.
