The Seaports Terminal Operators Association of Nigeria (STOAN) on Tuesday expressed the belief that new policies at the ports will get more stable and the nation’s economy will grow with time.
Bolaji Akinola, the association’s spokesman, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that terminal operators had challenges in 2014, following the disregard of the concession agreement and business projections.
According to him, some of their operations in 2014 slowed down due to changes in some government policies.
“The issue of port operation last year; we got a lot of surprises and naturally, businesses don’t like uncertainties.
“Businesses are more comfortable when there is certainty, stability within the system, especially in terms of government policies.
“Terminal operations faced challenging time last year, and don’t forget we have a concession agreement that was signed and predicated on certain assumptions, projections and forecasts.
“So, when policies now come in half way into concession agreement, it upsets a lot of things and that is what happened all of last year.”
Akinola said the changes in policy truncated operations of some terminals that were handling bulk cargo like rice and fish.
He said the Roll-On Roll-Off (RORO) operations were also affected by the new automotive policy which, he said, was aimed at reducing the volume of vehicles imported into Nigeria.
Akinola, however, said that terminal operators had strong faith and confidence in the Nigerian economy despite the setbacks. (NAN)
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