Togo’s port of Lomé has gradually overtaken Nigeria’s Lagos port as a business hub for cargo business in West African sub-region. The development may not be unconnected with the never-ending congestion at Nigeria’s Apapa port in Lagos which resulted in the loss of nearly 30% of container traffic over the last five years.
However, Nigeria’s loss has proven to be Togo’s gain; as reforms and investment to transform the port of Lomé into a regional transit hub are starting to have an impact.
Few days ago, Nigerian Minister of State for Agriculture and Rural Development, Heineken Lokpobiri, has blamed rice smuggling in Nigeria on the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) protocol on free trade.
He lamented on the nation’s fight against the smuggling of foreign rice into the country as being hampered by Nigeria’s neighbours, particularly Benin Republic who he alleged have taken advantage of the free trade to frustrate Government’s efforts at tackling the menace.
From reports gathered, Togo is ahead of Nigeria in number of 20-foot containers transiting West Africa ports, making it a regional hub.
Regrettably, Nigeria has stalled on building the Ibom Deep Seaport in Akwa Ibom state. Experts in the sector has it that n with Ibom seaport, most containers for Aba and Onitsha will avoid Lagos for Ibom.
When such is realized, Lagos port will improve as traffic has been diverted. More than 70% of things imported into Togo are said to be destined for Nigeria.
