INEC boss lauds development of mega container ports

The National Electoral Commissioner, Independent
National Electoral Commission (INEC), Hajia Amina
Zakari, has said that rising global cargo freight is
giving room for development of mega container
ports across the globe.
Zakari stated this in a paper entitled “Logistics and
Its Challenges in the 21st Century’’, made available to
the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in
Lagos.
She spoke on the sideline of the Women In Logistics
and Transport (WILAT) Conference 2016, held in
Lagos.
According to her, ocean shipping is vividly known to
handle over 70 per cent of global cargo freight.This
leads to the growing capacity and size of ships, the
expansion of Panama Canal and the development of
mega container ports across the globe.
The ownership and operations of global shipping has
also been expanding toward creating mega players
that tend to control greater percentage of
international cargo freight,’’ she said.
Zakari said that this development would tend to shift
patronage away from older ports and lead to
redundancy in many traditional logistics centres.
She expected to see continuing efforts by shippers,
carriers and service providers to store, handle and
transport goods in environmental
responsible ways.
Zakari noted some of the factors which made
Africa’s transport costs and other challenges
extremely severe by global standards.
She mentioned border posts plagued with corruption
as well as inefficiencies; high parking fees;
inadequate facilities and space to park
vehicles.
Zakari said there was lack of proper integration and
insufficient training of personnel on logistics
management and operations.
The national electoral commissioner explained that
the volatility of energy prices (fuel) locally and
internationally, had been a major challenge in
logistics management in the 21st century.
She added, “The volatility of energy prices led to
higher transportation costs that translate into
increases in cost of logistics.’’
The national electoral commissioner said that the
high fuel costs and further regulation of engine
emissions and carbon footprints as well as possible
driver shortages in advanced countries of the world,
would result in higher truck rates.
“With active globalisation on course, the ripple
effects of this is felt in virtually every other country
through rising logistics costs emanating from the
global supply chain and logistics network.
“Despite rising hire rates, the threat of human
capacity and skills shortages remains.
“This challenge is posing negative impact on logistics
service delivery,’’ NAN quotes Zakari as saying.
She explained that transport and logistics
infrastructure continued to deteriorate, particularly
in least-advanced countries, where there is conflict
between jobs creation, public spending and other
issues that are all tangled up with infrastructure
deficit.
According to her, another fundamental challenge
facing logistics companies and operations is the poor
condition of roads due to inadequate maintenance
and overloading.
“Over 60 per cent of the challenges on African roads
conditions is caused by over-loading of vehicles.
“Another challenge is inadequate budget and lack of
sufficient funding for infrastructural development,’’
Zakari said.
She said that many shippers and carriers wanted an
initiative that would increase truck weight limits for
vehicles equipped with six axles to enable the
vehicles handle additional weight.
Zakari said that, “Efforts to tighten security in the
supply chain will continue but the idea of
guaranteeing that every package and every container
is safe remains a challenge.’’
She urged government, carriers and security
operatives in seaports, airports, terminals and along
logistics routes, to find remedies every time security
threats arose.
The national electoral commissioner advised WILAT
and other organisations to always be abreast with
information on changes in international Rules,
Conventions and agreements with regards to
logistics operation.

Source: guardian