By GODWIN ORITSE
PORTS in neighbouring  countries in the West African sub-region are currently constructing deep sea ports  that will take mega ships so as to  take up  Nigerian bound cargoes.

In a letter to the President Goodluck Jonathan, the President of the National Council of  Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents (NCMDLCA),  Mr. Lucky  Amiwero,  said that most of the countries in the sub-region are building ports that can take vessels that  carry as much as 14,000 containers.

He warned that if urgent steps are not taken to develop new ports in Nigeria, Nigeria will only contain itself with trans-shipment cargoes.

Amiwero stated that the establishment of transshipment center in any regional port, will eventually change the distribution pattern of cargoes within the sub-region.

He noted that the West and Central African coast from Mauritania to Angola is one of the few regions of the world with a  dominant hub distribution port

The logistics expert disclosed that construction of a deep seaport in Seme-Kpodji as a transshipment center is a threat to Nigeria as Mega vessels carrying up to 15,000 containers will be directed to such and only trans-ship to Nigeria because of the nation’s draft which statistics says is not more than 10 meters.

Seme is a border town between Nigeria and Benin Republic where duty rates are low and cargo clearing procedure flexible.

He said “ Nigeria has  one of the most important attributes carriers look for which is a strategic location of the hub/transshipment center relative to primary origins and final destination of the container traffic.”

He stated that with the plans to take nearly 75percent  of Nigerian bound cargoes, Ghana, Benin Republic, and Cote D’’ Ivoire commenced moves to build deep sea ports.

He  noted that until few years  ago, Nigeria played host to land-locked countries like Niger, Chad, Burkinafaso and Cameroon as cargoes meant for these countries transited through Nigeria.

These trans-shipments have all been lost to Ghana and other neighbouring countries that are working round the clock to siphon Nigeria bound cargoes.

His words “ Nigeria ports palyed host to the land locked countries of Niger, Chad and Cameroon in the Sixties and Seventies, we lost all that to Ghana and Cote D’ Ivoire due to their process that conforms to FAL conventionof the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Kyoto convention and reform implementation of Process procedure that minimize, simplifies and facilitate trade.