Apapa Traffic: Truckers go for highest bidder; as transport fee shoots up by over 1000%

Harboursandport.com: Lagos --- Truck drivers have resorted to the bidding system to decide whose consignment to carry from the port once they get into the port, importers and their agents have cried out.

Executive Secretary, Nigerian Shippers Council, Hassan Bello

The situation has led to an increase of about 1000 percent hike of the cost of transporting goods out of the port. Harboursandport.com gathered has shot up the cost of transportation of cargo from the N25,000 before the chaotic traffic situation to between N300,000 and N350,000 depending on the bargaining power of an importer or his agent.

They explained that the truckers do not take into consideration who contracted them before making their way to the port but dumps such customer for whoever is able to pay more for their services.

President of the Shippers Association of Lagos, Rev. Jonathan Nicol, said transportation of goods from Tin-can port to Ikeji which used to cost N50,000 for a 20 feet container now cost N275,000.

Nicol also disclosed that 40 feet container which use to cost N80,000, now attracts about N430,000 to N450,000. He explained that truckers cannot be blamed because of the bad roads which make them stay on the roads for weeks before they get into and out the ports.

He said importers are made to pay high demurrages because it is becoming increasingly difficult for trucks to get into the port and when they do; they only go for the highest bidder.

He said Shippers Association of Lagos State has taken the case to the Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC) who could not act on the issue of exorbitant transport fee because of the bad.

He further pointed out that importers are now forced to pay three times what they use to pay for the clearance of their goods from the port yet stand the chance of losing their consignments with no one to hold responsible.