Association decries high cost of transportation

The National Sesame Seed Association of Nigeria (NSSAN) has decried the high cost of transportation in the country.

The National President of the association, Alhaji Sheriff Balogun, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kaduna yesterday.

According to him, it costs more to move goods within the country than shipping goods from the U.S.

Balogun said: “It costs between N800, 000 to N1 million to transport a trailer of 30 tonnes of goods from Taraba State to Lagos.

“But you will transport a 20ft container of goods from New York to Nigeria at just $2,000 or about N600, 000 at the official exchange rate and about N700, 000 at black market rate.”

Balogun explained that the transporters justified their high charges on dilapidated Nigerian roads, which damaged their trucks and tyres and deplete their profit margin.

He also complained about multiple taxes, whereby transporters would be forced to pay all kinds of taxes before reaching their destination.

“For instance, we pay for about 49 receipts moving goods from Taraba State to Kano and more, if you are moving the goods to Lagos.

“The worst is Benue State where we collect over 20 receipts.

“How can one make profit under such harsh environment?” he asked.