Sifax has disclosed the major reasons for sitting its newly-opened RoRo terminals outside the port environment.
Sifax Grosup has given reasons why it sited its roll on roll off (RoRo) terminal outside the nation’s seaports in Lagos.
It stated it has opened two terminals at Okota, Lagos, where the storage and releasing of the imported vehicles are done.
The group which is a multinational corporation with diverse interests in maritime, aviation, haulage and logistics, oil and gas and hospitality said it took the decision as part of the one-stop-shop vehicle importation service it recently launched in Lagos.
This is a sharp departure from the practice where vehicles are cleared from facilities in and around the port area.
The Group Managing Director, SIFAX Group, Mr. John Jenkins, in a statement issued in Lagos said the state of deteriorating roads around the port and need to decongest the port are two of the major factors for taking the terminals away from the port.
His words: “The reason why we made SIFAX terminals at Okota our releasing office was because there is a high demand for dedicated RoRo Off-dock terminal solutions outside the port area. With an increase in import cargo and deteriorating roads, consignees are seeking for better accessibility in the release of their cargo. SIFAX Group Off-dock terminals located at Okota offer this unique logistic advantage, which is highly recognized in Lagos.
“The Off-dock terminals are strategically located along the main roads of Lagos and they are new purpose-built logistics centre for handling RoRo products for the Nigerian market. Its geographical position in the centre of Lagos industrial zone provides consignees with faster and more cost effective transport solution.”
Jenkins stated that it was necessary to open the new terminals to customers because the ports area is a temporary transit base where cargoes are stored before it is then transferred to an off-dock terminal.
He also assured agents and consignees of an innovative, excellent and unparalleled customer service that will make the releasing of vehicles at the terminals a pleasurable experience.
