Some Environmental Challenges and Solutions in the Nigerian ports systems

By P.A. Bariweni, A.A. Akasoand and J.F.N. Abowei

Some Environmental Challenges and Solutions in the Nigerian ports systems with emphasis on the publicly-owned and private ports in Ontario, Canada example were reviewed to improve the Nigerian ports systems.

The meanings of ports and systems and considered problems associated with the Nigerian ports system. Location, facilities and port traffic and industry, port status and Port administration in Canada Port Authorities such as Toronto, Hamilton, Windsor, Thunder Bay Prescott, Oshawa, port Colborne, Port Stanle, Sarnia, Goderich, Owen Sound Publicly Owned or Administered Ports and Nanticoke, Meldrum Bay and Sault Ste Marie Non-publicly Owned or Administered Ports were Canada examples reviewed. Malfunctioning port systems, Government’s interventions and interferences, Inadequate infrastructural materials for efficient and fast services, Complicated Traffic Structure and Implementation, Misunderstanding of the usage and current functions of ports, Proliferation of Government Agencies operating at the ports, Cumbersome Documentation and Delivery Procedure, Insecurity of Cargo and Lives, Manpower and Labor Problems, NPA’S Lack of Financial Autonomy and Port Environmental Pollution Problems are some environmental challenges faced by the Nigerian Ports system; which solutions were proffered. 

Other problems associated with the Nigerian ports system are: Many of the shipping companies claiming to operate in its maritime industry exist only on paper “portfolio shipping companies” without owning their own ships, the traffic pattern is such that there are more imports than exports thereby causing balance of trade problems, duplicity of shipping and shipping related associations and the absence of integration of maritime transport with other means of transport thereby making door to door delivery mirage. The fact that the problems have solutions that can be applied means that they are partially solved. If there the solutions are correctly implemented, the problems will be reduced if not totally solved and the Nigerian ports, its maritime industry and the Nigerian economy would all be better for it.