13 April 2014, Lagos – Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, said it handled about 76, 886, 997 metric tons of cargo throughput in 2013. The figures, which were obtained from data collated by the authority, showed that volume of cargo throughput in 2013 exceeded that of 2012 by a marginal 0.042 per cent. In 2012, the nation’s seaports handled 76,855,754 metric tons.
In 2013, NPA said Nigerian ports also witnessed a total of 5,185 oceans going vessels with a total gross registered tonnage, GRT, of 131,674,337 gross tons.
According to the data, which was obtained by THISDAY, “excluding crude oil terminals, cargo throughput of 76,886,997 metric tons was handled at all Nigerian ports in 2013, showing an increase of 0.042.6 per cent over the 2012 figure of 76,855,754 metric tons. In the same vein, container traffic amounted to 1,010,836 TEUs, showing a growth of 15.2 per cent over the 2012 full year figure of 877,737 TEUs just as a total of 291,824 units of vehicles were handled in the period under review showing an increase of 8.9 per cent over the 2012 full year figure of 268,026 units.
“Liquefied natural gas (LNG) shipment handled in the period under review amounted to 19,341,663 metric tons, indicating a drop of 12.7 per cent from 22,146,908 metric tons of 2012 full year figure. Refined petroleum shipment handled was 19,416,043 metric tons, an increase of 9.5 per cent over 2012 full year figure of 17,730,727 metric tons. Dry bulk cargo handled at the ports in the year under review amounted to 9,537,447 metric tons, showing a decline of 6.5 per cent from 2012 full year figure of 10,205,339 metric tons. General cargo handled at the ports in year 2013 was 11,964,978 metric tons, indicating a drop of 5.8 per cent from the 2012 full year figure of 12,702,826 metric tons”, it added.
On ships and tonnage, the authority noted that while a total of 5,185 oceans going vessels with a total GRT of 131,674,337 gross tons called at Nigerian ports, the Lagos Port Complex (LPC) recorded a GRT of 34,466,291 gross tons, showing an increase of 9.4 per cent over the same period of 2012 which was 31,513,987 gross tons. A total of 1,498 vessels were handled in the period under review at the port.
It said Tin Can Island Port recorded a GRT of 42,758,161 gross tons indicating 23.2 per cent increase over the corresponding period of 2012 which was 34,703,547 gross tons while 1,725 ocean going vessels were handled at the Port within the period.
On Calabar Port Complex, it said it recorded a total GRT of 2,792,488 gross tons, showing a marginal decline of 2.8 per cent compare with 2,871,622 gross tons, leaving the port with 197 ocean going vessels in the period under review.
NPA, which has Alhaji Habib Abdullahi as its managing director, noted: “Rivers Port complex recorded a total Gross registered tonnage of 6,394,270 gross tons, 7.9 per cent drop compared with 6,929,179 gross tons, in the corresponding period of 2012. 447 ocean going vessels were handled within the period under review. Onne Port complex recorded a GRT of 38,967,131 gross tons reflecting a decrease of 7.4 per cent as against 42,062,351 gross tons recorded in the corresponding period of 2012 with 820 vessels in the year under review. Within the period under review, the Delta Port Complex recorded 6,295,996 gross tons showing an increase of 105 per cent over the 2012 full year figure of 3,069,887 gross tons, with 498 vessels handled.”
The data reiterated Abdullahi’s recent admonition during the recent launch of the e-payment solution for the ports that it had now become imperative for authority to seek ways of improving its revenue without compromising efficiency.
*John Iwori-Thisday
