By Sandra Chukwunyere
Chairman of SIFAX Group, Dr. Taiwo Afolabi, has called on the Federal Government to accelerate the rehabilitation and expansion of Nigeria’s eastern ports to improve cargo distribution, reduce congestion at Lagos ports and boost economic activities across the country.
Afolabi made the appeal while hosting the Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, Dr. Akutah Pius Ukeyima, at the SIFAX Group headquarters in Lagos.
According to him, years of inadequate investment and maintenance have limited the operational capacity of ports in the eastern region, forcing the bulk of cargo traffic to Lagos and placing enormous pressure on existing infrastructure.
He noted that economic activities at Nigerian ports continue to grow annually, but the concentration of cargo operations in Lagos has overstretched facilities, creating bottlenecks that affect efficiency and increase logistics costs.
Afolabi stressed that revitalising ports such as Warri, Onne and Calabar through dredging and infrastructure upgrades would enable them to receive larger vessels, attract more business and provide viable alternatives to the Lagos ports.
He further observed that the Tin Can Island Port corridor has become a major congestion hotspot, with traffic volumes far exceeding the capacity for which the road network was originally designed. The resulting gridlock, he said, continues to impose significant costs on businesses and transport operators while slowing economic activities.
Speaking during the visit, Ukeyima commended Afolabi and SIFAX Group for their significant contributions to the growth of Nigeria’s maritime industry. He described the company as one of the country’s foremost maritime investors and acknowledged its role in driving economic development through investments across the maritime value chain.
The Shippers’ Council boss also pledged continued collaboration with SIFAX Group and other industry stakeholders to promote reforms and advance the growth of Nigeria’s maritime sector.
