The President, Nigeria Chamber of Shipping (NCS), Mr Andy Isichei, said on Monday that constant gridlock on access roads to the Western ports was negatively impacting the economy.

Isichei, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos, noted that constant gridlock on ports access roads had constituted a danger to public infrastructure, having turned bridges to parking lots.

He attributed the gridlock on port roads to many cargoes being designated for Western ports, coupled with the inability of the water channels or outer ports to accommodate bigger vessels.

Isichei said that freight limits, as regards maximum number of cargoes, contributed to the challenges facing the Eastern ports.

According to the chamber of shipping chief, larger volume of cargoes would drive down costs.

He said that constant dialogue would assist the Ministerial Committee on Ports to solve the challenges, and also energise the economy of other ports.

The chamber of shipping chief said that investments were suffering.

According to him, the inefficient port system has brought about congestion on the sea and on the land.

Isichei urged the Federal Government to improve on road infrastructure, to stop the constant gridlock on ports roads.

(NAN)