By Anne Ejuka
SIFAX Group has contracted the China Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC) Nigeria Limited for the expansion of pavement of the Ijora Inland Container Terminal, Lagos.
The newest off-dock facility was established about 15 months ago, the terminal, which is operated by the SIFAX Shipping ICT Limited, a subsidiary of the group, has witnessed an exponential growth in its customer base as well as increasing demand, which has necessitated a massive expansion of the capacity of the terminal.
The terminal, commissioned precisely in October 2020, was established to alleviate the difficulties experienced by various port users, including truckers, shipping lines, agents and consignees, in accessing the Apapa Ports due to the gridlocks within that area that has defied all manner of approach to salvage the situation. The terminal operates by moving consignments to its facility through barges for onward delivery to customers, thereby avoiding traffic congestion.
The Executive Vice Chairman of the group, Dr. Taiwo Afolabi during the official signing ceremony said, “It sounds so unbelievable that the off dock terminal is just one year old; going by the impact made in such a short period of time; Our stakeholders have been treated to a whole new experience in cargo clearance. Consignments are moved to the terminal through barges without the hassles of traffic congestion. Goods are cleared in record time while the location of the terminal makes it attractive for truckers. All these have increased our patronage and made the initial terminal capacity inadequate to satisfy the increasing demand".
It was also gathered that the terminal has consequently acquired adjoining pieces of land to increase its total capacity from the 15,000 square meters at inception to 83,000 square meters. It was in order to ensure that the terminal operates in line with global standards in terms of infrastructure that the company contracted CCECC, a Chinese engineering and construction giant for the construction of the terminal’s pavement.
While speaking at the signing ceremony, the Managing Director, SIFAX Shipping ICT Limited, Paul Linden said the strategic nature of the terminal and the need to build a durable infrastructure at the facility necessitated the choice of CCECC.
According to Linden: “CCECC is a notable construction company with a track record of excellent service across the country. Having expanded the size of the terminal, we needed to put the terminal floor to a world-class state and that’s the reason CCECC was contracted; Due to the heavy-duty equipment that have been deployed, a super solid concrete surface that can withstand the pressure became necessary. We are excited with this agreement signed with CCECC and we are convinced they will deliver the project within the agreed time".
He further stated that some of the future plans of the terminal, which has been positioned as a model in terms of technology deployment, modern facilities, excellent customer service and infrastructural development, include the building of a strong quay in readiness to berth feeder vessels, as well as the purchase of more cargo handling equipment and a transit park for trucks using the facility.