NPA’s shipping position indicates Lagos ports expect 166 ships in one week.

The Lagos and Tin-Can Island ports will in the next seven days, harbour 166 ships, according to the Nigerian Ports Authority’s shipping position on Wednesday in Lagos.

The shipping position made available showed that 74 of the ships were expected at the Lagos Port Complex while 92 would sail into the Tin-Can Island Port.

Of the 166 ships, 58 had containers while 45 were laden with petroleum products.

Twenty-six and 17 ships were expected at both ports respectively with used and new vehicles, while three ships would sail into the ports with bulk wheat.

At the Lagos port, four ships would bring in bulk cement; two with bulk sugar; three with bulk malt and three with bulk salt.

One ship will sail into the Lagos port with steel; another will also come in with rice; one with ethanol and another with fertiliser.

Apart from the 166, 23 other ships are awaiting clearance to berth at the Lagos Port Complex.

The 23 ships are laden with aviation fuel, diesel, kerosene, fish, bulk rice, fresh fish, rice and containers laden with other goods.

Observers who were amazed by the high volume of ships equated it to the ``Cement Armada’’ era in the 70s, when the Lagos port experienced cargo and ship congestion.

The port was overwhelmed with the high volume of post-war cargoes and vessels which overstretched the port’s facilities.