The lingering energy crisis has increased the cost of moving containers from the seaports in Lagos to the North and eastern parts of the country.
The Guardian investigation revealed that it now costs between N1.8 million and N2.3 million to move a 40-foot container from Apapa or Tin-Can Island ports to major markets in Kano, Kaduna, Abuja and Anambra States compared to about N1.2 million paid by importers last year. That puts the increase at between 50 and 92 per cent or an average of 71 per cent.
According to industry analysts, this development is mounting serious pressure on transporters, thereby, resulting in the high cost of transporting containers, especially for the long-distance locations. “Transporters claim that they spend a substantial amount of money buying diesel to power their trucks. The person that moved my container from Lagos to Kano claimed he had to spend between N500,000 and N900,000 on diesel alone,” he said.
Ogungbemi further stated that the high inflation, which stands at about 21 per cent, is affecting the trucking business as the costs of spare parts have continued to go up, making it near impossible for operators and owners to maintain the trucks. To them, container haulage by rail is far cheaper when compared to the costs of moving containers via the road, which presently handles about 90 per cent of all import and export goods in Nigeria.