Ports & Cargo terminal targets 300,000 TEUs in 2021

Mr John Jenkins, Managing Director, Ports & Cargo Handling Services, disclosed this in a statement in Lagos on Wednesday.

A TEU or Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit is an exact unit used to measure cargo capacity for container ships and container terminals.

Jenkins said that the terminal recorded an increase of 12,153 TEUs to cap at 242,195 TEUs in 2020 compared with 230,042 TEUs achieved in 2019.

He said that the target, though ambitious, was achievable in view of impressive performance posted in 2020, in spite of the myriads of challenges in the maritime sector.

Jenkins also said that the full import figure rose to 122,243 TEUs in 2020 from 109,367 TEUs recorded in 2019.

He said that the export of empty containers rose to 96,605 TEUs in 2020 from 94,041 TEUs achieved in 2019.

Jenkins said that the company recorded a decline in its full export as it saw a drop from the 2019 figure of 26,634 TEUs to 23,347 – a difference of 3,287.

“In spite of the harsh business terrain occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic, terrible state of the port access roads and some other hurdles, the terminal still recorded this impressive performance.

“This is due to proactive business strategy, committed staff, supportive leadership and loyal clients,” he said.

Jenkins said that in order to boost the terminal’s efficiency, barge operation was given utmost priority with the creation of two dedicated points at the quayside where the barges load and offload with dedicated cranes.

He noted that the barge operation had helped in the decongestion of the terminal.

“We now achieve a minimum of 8,000 TEUs for our barge operations on a monthly basis.

“This has greatly improved the terminal’s business offerings and brings great relief to our customers who have had to endure the biting consequence of port congestion.

“The congestion is primarily caused by poor access roads and the ongoing road construction,” Jenkins said.

He explained that with all the strategies and modern equipment put in place at the terminal, the company would meet the target of 300,000 TEUs set for it in 2021.

Speaking on the terminal’s performance, Mr Bode Ojeniyi, Group Executive Director, SIFAX Group, expressed optimism that the company would surpass the 2021 target.

Ojeniyi said with the impending launch of its e-payment and e-billing platforms and the huge investment in the acquisition of more technological infrastructure, the terminal was well positioned to deliver. (NAN)