Concession as a Strategic Tool for Ports Efficiency: An Assessment of the Nigerian Ports

Abstract

This paper examined the problems bedeviling the operations of the Nigerian ports before the concession programme of 2006 and how well the concession has improved the performance of the Ports system. Data were collected through secondary methods such as annual reports, as well as interview and media reports.  The content analysis method was adopted in analyzing the data. The findings of the study showed that the concession may for all its worth have been able to earn more income for the government but the Authority has failed to keep its part of the contract agreement especially as it concerns the provision of the enabling environment for port operations; infrastructures were still lacking, dwell time has not substantially reduced and corruption still soared high. The paper submits that the regulators of the maritime system need to do more to ensure that it is not paying lip service to its vision of being the leading port in Africa.