Seaport Productivity in a Developing Economy: An Empirical Evidence from Nigerian Seaports

Abstract

This study focuses on assessing the efficiency of Nigerian ports from 2008 to 2017 by applying Data Envelopment Analysis. The data were sourced from Nigeria Port Authority Abstract from 2008 to 2017, for three seaports (Apapa, Onne and Rivers port). Cargo throughput, Labour/Personnel, Ship traffic, Vessel turnaround time, and Berth occupancy are the variables used to measure the operational performance of the ports and Data Envelopment Analysis – Charnes Cooper Rhodes/Constant return to scale (CCR/CRS model) model was used to determine their technical efficiency over time. The results reveal that Onne port and Apapa port's technical efficiency is 1 (One) and Rivers port is 0 (Zero); meaning that Rivers port is not performed efficiently compared to Onne port and Apapa port over the ten-year period under study. The Policy implications for Nigerian ports are that Rivers port should be privatized completely to improve its efficiency and Onne port should be used to benchmark the ports in Nigeria.