The President, Kwara State Shippers' Association, Dr. Ipoola Okunlola, has canvassed the promotion of hinterland shipping business to enable the country to join the league of developed nations.

He decried the congestion in the country's sea ports, adding that no much progress had been made to improve the situation for decades.

He spoke during a seminar on 'Promoting hinterland shipping business in Nigeria in Ilorin on Wednesday.

The seminar was organised by the Nigerian Shippers' Council, South-West zone.

"Port congestion has been with us for decades and as a young man in the 1970, I benefitted from this ugly situation after had I left secondary school in Lagos, as I got my first employment as a tally at Apapa Wharf due to the port congestion of that time.

Okunlola reiterated the need for an urgent establishment of an inland container deport in Ilorin.

He added that it would also enable an importer in the North Central zone to clear his containers in Ilorin than going to Lagos or any other seaport.

The Kwara State Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Alhaji Raji Mohammed, said that export trade had yet to develop properly in the state in spite of the fact that the state produces a lot of exportable commodities.

He urged the Nigeria Export Promotion Council, the Association of Nigerian Exporters and the Shippers' Association to enlist the interest of producers in the state in the export trade.

The Director, Inland Transport Services, Nigerian Shippers' Council, Mr. Raheem Sanusi, who was represented by an official of the NSC, Mrs. Adebese Adeogba, said the council would continue to protect the interest of Nigerian importers and exporters on matters relating to the shipment of cargoes in and out of Nigeria.