Inland container depots begin operations soon – Shippers Council

The Executive Secretary, Nigerian Shippers' Council, Mr. Hassan Bello, said on Wednesday in Lagos that the nation's Inland Container Depots would begin operations soon.

Bello told journalists that the operation of the ICDs would go a long way in decongesting the access roads to the ports in Lagos as well as enhance cargo delivery.

He said that if 70 per cent of the cargo was taken off-dock for examination, they would be delivered at the door steps of their owners on time.

“If 70 per cent of the cargo in the ports is taken off-dock for examination, then there would not be congestion either at the ports – that is – at the terminals or the roads leading to them.

“This is because you would have taken the trucks off the road; you would have minimised human contact and the ocean economy that we have had in the seaports would be replicated in the hinterland where these ports are located.

“It is important to note that this would also reduce the transport cost; all the trucks from Kano, Funtua, Aba, Ibadan coming to Lagos to convey cargo would not come because they have already got their ports.

“This is bringing shipping to the door steps of internal shippers and reducing congestion and boosting the economy of those places where these ports are sited,” he added.

The executive secretary said Nigeria had an advantage in transit trade which had to do with the movement of cargo to neighbouring countries such as Republic of Niger and Chad.

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