Post Concession and Users’ Perceptions of Seaports in Nigeria

Seaports in Nigeria are gradually moving away from being publicly operated to engaging the private sectors in terminal operations through concession contracts. This paper examined the Users’ Perceptions of the Pre and Post Concession of Nigerian seaports. The study employed qualitative and quantitative research method with data spanning between 1994 and 2019. The results showed that; the performances of Pre concession was perceived poor by the users in Onne seaport (mean = 1.84) while it was graded good at Post concession (mean = 3.49). Port users Perceived the performances of Apapa seaport at Pre concession as poor (mean = 1.88) while it was perceived as good at Post concession (mean = 3.11). Port users Perceived the performances of Warri port at Pre concession as poor (mean = 1.75), while it was perceived good at Post concession (mean = 3.09). However Port Users in all the ports perceived level of corruption lower at the pre concession (mean = 1.64) than the post concession (mean = 2.87). In all the selected ports, users rated relevance of ICT in cargo clearance as most perceived good while the satisfaction of the port services was perceived least at concession (mean =3.64, 2.75). The paper concludes that there was an improvement in the provision of adequate & modern critical infrastructures at concession. The relevance of ICT in cargo clearance improved at concession as well as the managerial competency of the terminal operator. However, at the period of this paper, levels of corruption were perceived positive and significant at concession.