Can’t Live With Them, Can’t Live Without Them: A Danfo Story

On the list of things that stress me out in Lagos, Driving in traffic is a strong one. If you ever had to drive a manual in traffic, you know what I mean. Consequently, once goggle map has more reds than green, it’s the Danfo bus life for me. Firstly, we squeeze into the bus like sardines and then there’s the suspense: Will there be enough change on the conductor to reach everyone? Will the conductor make you wed absolute strangers and leave you to search for change with them? The bus itself is another matter. Very few can start without been pushed or prodded. The doors hang off, seat belts are tattered ropes. Plus, these buses break down at a moment’s notice. The drivers are not exactly great either. They smash into each other, pack on the main roads and generally constitute a nuisance.

Yet, the Danfo remains the most used mode of transport! This in no way negates its challenges. People go through with it because alternate choices are few. The same can be said for our maritime industry.

Most countries with access to ports boast of major development, more so an oil-producing one. Unfortunately, Nigeria ports are rife with major challenges:

1. Our out-dated mode of customs examination increases the length of time for imports. This thereby ranks Nigeria’s Ease of Doing Business index in World Bank very negatively, as there is more hours spent for Nigeria compared to other countries in the world.
2. The turnaround time for ships takes too long. Businesses have to brace themselves for weeks (if not months) of endless waiting before their cargo can be loaded or discharged.
3. There are no holding bays for trucks and tankers. Hence the long waits for ships leads to massive congestion at the Port and causing persistent traffic gridlock. Roads and bridges are now parking spaces for heavy duty vehicles, which in turn leads to their speedy deterioration.
4. The Nigerian maritime industry is dominated by foreign counterparts. Hence, Indigenous vessels can only move cargo within the nation’s waters once a month and are generally idle. Whereas, foreign ships owners flout the laws and enter the nation’s waters at will.
5. The unpredictability of the dollar rate means business owners cannot plan ahead and investors do not have confidence in injecting finances into business in Nigeria.

All of this can be quite daunting to the inexperienced eyes. That's why we at Dreg Waters exist. We take on the leg-work at a speedy return rate, so you don't have to. For more information on the challenges of the maritime industry, Contact us at Dreg water today.