Ports have an important role to play in the intermodal transportation chain. In the intermodal transportation chain any delay to the cargo in the port as a result of inefficiency in handling and/or late clearance by customs will ultimately affect the free flow and quick delivery of the cargo. Intermodal transportation has two fundamental aspects, that is, transferability of cargo between modes and the organizational aspects that permit the provision of door- to- door service. Intermodal transport requires fast delivery of cargo. It entails limited or at best no hindrance to the free low of cargo traffic particularly in the ports. This is because ports have always been held as the interruption point for intermodal transport traffic. Although non-containerized cargo and people can move intermodally, but a mere mention of intermodal transportation quickly brings to mind containerized traffic. This should not be surprising because the birth of containerization is always considered to have brought about the development of intermodal transportation. Containerization and intermodal transportation has brought great challenges for the ports. Most ports have redeveloped by way of expansion of their berths and terminals and the acquisition of modern handling equipments to properly face these challenges. In other words modernity has been introduced into such ports. While else where such as in the US, Belgium, Netherlands, Hong Kong China, Main Land China, Singapore and South Korea to mention but a few countries where ports have been modernized and are strongly putting up to the pressure brought by container shipping and intermodal transportation in Nigeria the reverse is the case. This paper examines the role of Nigerian ports in pushing forward the development of intermodal transportation system in Nigeria. The paper pointed out generally ports in Nigeria that handle containerized cargo. Particular attention is paid to the container terminal port, Lagos. The reason for so doing is that it handles most of the container traffic in and out of Nigeria. The growth level of containerization in teus from 1991-2000 is reviewed Problems in the ports that include among others non-modern and inadequate infrastructures and handling equipments are identified as well as their effect on the development of intermodal transportation in the country. Possible solutions to the problems of the ports that include the deregulation of the ports and high level of computerization are put forward.
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