SIFAX Group, a multinational corporation, said it sited its new Roll On Roll Off (RORO) terminals outside the port environment due to deteriorating roads around the ports.
The Group Managing Director of SIFAX Group, Mr John Jenkins stated this on Friday in Lagos.
Jenkins said that “ the terminals represented part of the one-stop-shop vehicle importation service launched by SIFAX Group recently.’’
He said that the company had opened two terminals at Okota, Lagos, where the storage and releasing of the imported vehicles were being done.
“This is a sharp departure from the practice where vehicles are cleared from facilities in and around the port area,’’ the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) quotes Jenkins as saying.
He said that the state of deteriorating roads around the port and the need to decongest the port were two major factors for taking the terminals away from the port.
“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 recognised 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,’’ NAN quotes Jenkins as saying.
The group managing director further said 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.
The General Manager, RoRo Terminals, SIFAX Group, Mr Saheed Lasisi, said that both terminals had all the required facilities to meet and exceed expectations of the agents.
“At the Okota terminals, we have the presence of the Nigeria Customs Service officers, a billing and manifest office and all other services that can make the releasing of vehicles very convenient.
“This is because we care a lot about our customers and clients, ‘’ he said.
The SIFAX Group vehicle importation service is a partnership involving foremost international shipping agent, Auto Export Shipping (AES) and Hyundai Glovis.
Over 1,000 vehicles are expected to be imported into Nigeria from major ports in the U.S. every month.