THE POST-CONCESSIONING PERFORMANCE EVALUATION OF LAGOS SEAPORT

Abstract

This study examined the trend of port performance indicators before and after concession of Nigerian seaports. More importantly, the study evaluated the contribution of concessioning in addressing the shortfall in port infrastructural development before concessioning with reference to Apapa port. Secondary data emanated from the annual statistical records of Nigerian Port Authority (NPA), and also elicit information from Port clearing and forwarding agents through a well structured questionnaire with a focus group discussion developed for the purpose of this research. Data on cargo throughput, berth occupancy rate, from 2000 to 2005 as pre-concessioning period and from 2006-2017 as post concessioning period were collected for the study. Analysis was carried out using descriptive statistics and results were presented in tables, graphs and charts. The results from the analysis showed that post concessioning era and concessioning has a significant influence on Apapa seaport performance which led to the emergence of very large vessels with greater cost of effectiveness, speed delivery, improved cargo- handling technology and reduced unit freight cost. This analysis also showed that the ship turnaround time in Apapa port is still high at the average of 8.18days as against the International Maritime Organization 48hrs stipulation. 340.9is greater than the critical value (49.80) at 0.05 significant levels. The yearly average cargo throughput of 19,228,781 metric tons of cargo from 2006 to 2017 over the yearly average of 11,664,932 metric tons from 2000 to 2005 shows a percentage increase of 64.84%. This shows the remarkable progress made in our port developmental efforts since the port concession era. In a nutshell, the pattern in Nigerian port traffic during the pre-concession era is sinusoidal while the post concession experienced a sharp progressive rise. The outcome of this study reveals that increase cargo throughput handled during the post concession at Apapa port was also influenced by an increase in berth occupancy rate. Labour productivity has a Spearman value of 0.518 and significance value 0.000. Likewise, correlation value reveals that there is positive and moderate relationship between labour productivity and cargo throughput. Also Turnaround time has a positive and moderate relationship with cargo throughput with Spearman’s value of 0.546 and significant value 0.000.Performance benchmarks should be determined for cargo throughput, ship traffic volume and berth occupancy performances of the seaport based on previous performance levels to serve as targets which Port Authorities and Terminal operators must strive to achieve and exceed.