The Impact of Improved Infrastructure and Efficient Cargo Delivery in Nigeria Port
CHAPTER ONE
Objectives of the Study
The following objectives are stated to guide the study.
- To examine the impact of improved infrastructure on efficient cargo delivery in Nigerian port
- To determine the major causes of poor infrastructure in Nigerian Ports.
- To identify and assess the effects of bad infrastructure in efficient cargo delivery in Nigerian ports.
- To investigate the major category of port infrastructure.
CHAPTER TWO
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
Overview
In the previous chapter the background of research problem and objectives of the study were examined. The scopes of the enquiry as well as structure of the proposal were also presented. The present chapter examines the extant literature review, coalescing relevant information regarding the role of seaport in facilitation growth of trade as well as theories in a cogent and logical manner.
Conceptual Definition
Harbour
Harbour is a protected water area to provide safe and suitable accommodation for ship for transfer of cargo, refueling and repairs. They are subdivided into natural and artificial (manmade) harbours. This is quite a good situation in comparison with other African coast lines (Khalifa, 1984).
Port
Port is a harbour where maritime terminal facilities are provided. This facilities include piers or wharf at which ships berth while loading or unloading cargo, transit shed and storage areas where ships may discharge incoming cargo and warehouse where goods may be stored for longer period while awaiting for distribution (Mwaya, 2009).
Logistics
Logistics is part of the supply chain process that plans, implements, and controls the efficient, effective forward and reverses flow and storage of goods, services and related information from the point of origin to the point of consumption in order to meet customer’s requirement (Vitasek, 2010).
Supply Chain
Supply Chain Management encompasses the planning and management of all activities involved in sourcing and procurement, conversion, and all logistics management activities. Importantly, it also includes coordination and collaboration with channel partners, which can be suppliers, intermediaries, third-party service providers, and customers. In essence, Supply Chain Management integrates supply and demand management within and across companies (Vitasek, 2010).
Trade Facilitation
Trade facilitation is the simplification and harmonization of international trade procedure where trade procedures are the activities practices and formalities involved in collecting, presenting, communicating and processing data required for the movement of goods in international trade’(WTO1998).
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Research Design
The expected research design in this study was the case study; the case design focuses on the particular cases and was able to provide some generalization/conclusion. The design was appropriate for collecting data from various sources, which include documentary reading, physical observation, questionnaires, and interviews thus useful in studying a particular social unit comparing to other methods of research design like experiment and survey methods.
Sources of data
The study relied on primary sources of data collection involving the survey of terminal operators in LPC through questionnaire administration.
Population and sampling of study
The study took a census of the staff of the private terminal operators with 112 respondents forming the sample size for the study since a population for the study could not be determined. The sample size for the study was found to be adequate going by Hair et al. (1995) cited by Williams et al. (2010) that sample sizes should be 100 or greater. The study employed simple random sampling technique to collect data with the support of research assistants. Information in the questionnaire was presented such that respondents had to indicate the weight they attached to a series of factors capable of challenging the operation of handling equipment at the port.
CHAPTER FOUR
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
The issues of inadequate equipment at terminals of seaports in Nigeria was one of the reasons the government decided in 2006 to involve private participation in the services of port operations through concession of berths to private investors. This is mainly for acquisition of more up to date equipment capable of handling the demand for cargo traffic at the port. This goal had been achieved by 2015, for Shomuyiwa and Ogundele (2015) report that state-of-the-art cargo handling equipment with high lift capacity had been procured at Tin Can port, Lagos. Table 1 presents the list of terminal operators and their allocated berths at the LPC.
The probable challenges facing efficient operation of cargo equipment at terminals of LPC were examined in this study and found that they are naturally related to each other through correlation analysis.
CHAPTER FIVE
Conclusion
The study subjected six variables believed to be adversely affecting the efficient operation of cargo handling equipment at terminals of LPC to correlation and regression analyses. Therefore, the study concludes that inadequate workshop and misuse of equipment were the most significant problems confronting the efficient operation of handling equipment at the terminals of the Lagos Port Complex. Poor maintenance is also a significant challenge.
An understanding of the variability in the operation of various handling equipment for handling different cargo types is crucial for efficient cargo management at the terminals of any port. Cargo management cannot be efficient without minimising the challenges faced when operating cargo handling equipment.
Policy Recommendation
For terminal operators, the strategy for successful operation of handling equipment should involve devising ways to compensate for a number of factors that, individually or in combination, act to reduce the efficiency of their equipment. This should be done with a view to avoiding misuse of equipment, while adequate workshops and spare parts are provided. While it is imperative for the terminal operators to give attention to the need for increased cargo traffic through efficient handling equipment; it is also important that terminal operators provide the technical know-how for efficient operation of equipment through training and retraining of staff. This should be complemented by the provision of workshop facilities and spare parts capable of bringing about servicing and maintenance of equipment. The management under the supervision of the NPA should ensure regulations guiding the provision and operation of equipment by terminal operators are enforced.
Suggestion for further studies
Further study is required to determine the impact of the provision of workshop facilities and proper maintenance of equipment in the operation of cargo handling equipment at the terminals of the port.
References
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