THE Association of Timber Merchants in Kaduna has attributed the high cost of timber to the ailing railway transportation in the country.
The Chairman of the association, Mr. Chidi Obodutana, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kaduna on Wednesday, that the inefficiency of the railway transport had affected timber business in Nigeria.
Obodutana said that the moribund railway transportation was a major challenge in the timber business as transporters had increased haulage charges to about 75 per cent.
According to him, transporters charged N170,000 per trailer load from the South to the North as at December 2010 but have now raised the cost to about N280,000.
The chairman lamented that the cost of transportation had been added to the market price.
He said that if the government would upgrade the railway system to international standard, the cost would reduce.
“A wagon can carry five trailer loads at minimal cost,’’ Obodutana said. He noted that the price of timber, comprising mahogany, fisherboard, white afara and redwood had increased by about 20 per cent.
He, therefore, urged the government to rescue the ailing rail system, adding that the prices of goods could be decreased if transportation charges were brought down..
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Association urges govt to revive rail transport