PORT INFRASTRUCTURE CONSTRAINTS AND PETROL SUPPLY IN CALABAR MUNICIPAL, CROSS RIVER STATE, NIGERIA
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.64415/jams.v1i2.73Keywords:
Port infrastructure, petrol supply, logistics constraints, Calabar port, petroleum distribution, Cross River StateAbstract
Port infrastructure plays a pivotal role in the seamless importation and distribution of petroleum products, yet the Calabar port, a critical gateway for petrol supply in Cross River State, continues to suffer from severe structural and operational deficiencies that compromise fuel availability in Calabar Municipal. This study empirically investigated the effect of port infrastructure constraints on petrol supply adequacy in Calabar Municipal, Cross River State, Nigeria. Four dimensions of port infrastructure constraints were examined as independent variables: port infrastructure capacity (PIC), port operational efficiency (POE), regulatory compliance framework (RCF), and logistics and hinterland connectivity (LHC), with petrol supply adequacy (PSA) as the dependent variable. Anchored on the Theory of Constraints (Goldratt, 1984), Logistics Systems Theory, and the Resource Dependency Theory (Pfeffer & Salancik, 1978), the study adopted a descriptive survey design and administered structured questionnaires to 250 purposively selected respondents comprising port operators, fuel distributors, transport logistics managers, petroleum marketing company staff, and government regulatory officers in Calabar Municipal. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and multiple linear regression via IBM SPSS Statistics version 25. Results revealed that PIC (β = -0.281, p < 0.001), POE (β = -0.257, p < 0.001), RCF (β = -0.214, p < 0.001), and LHC (β = -0.231, p < 0.001) all had significant negative effects on petrol supply adequacy, collectively explaining 55.2% of the variance (R² = 0.560, F = 77.84, p < 0.001). All four null hypotheses were rejected. The study concludes that port infrastructure constraints are a major systemic determinant of petrol supply inadequacy in Calabar Municipal and recommends urgent investment in port modernisation, operational automation, regulatory streamlining, and hinterland transport infrastructure to ensure energy supply security in the region.
Keywords: Port infrastructure, petrol supply, logistics constraints, Calabar port, petroleum distribution, Cross River State
References
Agbo, P. C., & Okwu, A. S. (2019). Applying theory of constraints to port logistics: Evidence from Nigerian secondary ports. African Journal of Supply Chain Management, 7(2), 44–61.
Ahn, H., & Wemmerlöv, U. (2004). Towards an understanding of maintenance systems in the context of the theory of constraints. Production Planning & Control, 15(2), 136–148. https://doi.org/10.1080/09537280410001662283
Christopher, M. (2016). Logistics and supply chain management (5th ed.). Pearson.
Creswell, J. W., & Creswell, J. D. (2018). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches (5th ed.). SAGE Publications.
Cross River State Ministry of Petroleum Resources. (2024). Annual petroleum supply situation report for Cross River State. Cross River State Government Press.
Cross River State Price Control Board. (2024). Petroleum product price monitoring report: Q1–Q4. CRSCPB.
Diyamett, B., Ngowi, P., & Mwamila, B. (2020). Port efficiency and commodity supply chains in Tanzania: An assessment of Dar es Salaam port. East African Journal of Transport and Logistics, 3(1), 12–29.
Ducruet, C., & Notteboom, T. E. (2012). The worldwide maritime network of container shipping: Spatial structure and regional dynamics. Global Networks, 12(3), 395–423. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1471-0374.2011.00355.x
Forrester, J. W. (1961). Industrial dynamics. MIT Press.
Goldratt, E. M., & Cox, J. (1984). The goal: A process of ongoing improvement. North River Press.
Haddad, M., Osei-Kyei, R., & Owusu-Manu, D. (2019). Infrastructure constraints and cargo throughput: Evidence from Ghana's Tema port. Journal of African Business, 20(3), 319–338. https://doi.org/10.1080/15228916.2019.1566282
Hair, J. F., Black, W. C., Babin, B. J., & Anderson, R. E. (2019). Multivariate data analysis (8th ed.). Cengage Learning.
Ibrahim, A. A., & Bello, K. O. (2023). Fuel supply chain disruptions in Cross River State: A situational analysis of port-side bottlenecks and their downstream effects. Nigerian Journal of Energy and Environment Economics, 5(1), 78–95.
Mabin, V. J., & Balderstone, S. J. (2003). The performance of the theory of constraints methodology: Analysis and discussion of successful TOC applications. International Journal of Operations & Production Management, 23(6), 568–595. https://doi.org/10.1108/01443570310476636
Mwangi, J. K., & Muema, F. (2021). Port operational efficiency and commodity supply adequacy: Evidence from Mombasa port. East African Journal of Logistics, 4(1), 55–74.
National Population Commission (NPC). (2023). Nigeria national population and housing census: Preliminary report. Federal Government of Nigeria.
Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA). (2024). Annual report: Nigerian maritime sector performance. NIMASA.
Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA). (2024). Petroleum product distribution framework for Nigerian seaports. NMDPRA.
Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA). (2023). Calabar district port performance report 2022–2023. NPA.
Notteboom, T. E., & Rodrigue, J. P. (2020). The corporate geography of global container terminal operators. Maritime Policy & Management, 39(3), 249–279. https://doi.org/10.1080/03088839.2012.671970
Nwankwo, C. A., & Okeke, F. U. (2022). Port infrastructure deficiencies and petroleum import delays at the Lagos port complex. Journal of Transport and Supply Chain Management, 16, 1–14. https://doi.org/10.4102/jtscm.v16i0.704
Olawale, O. A., & Sanusi, A. R. (2021). Regulatory bottlenecks and petroleum product clearance at Nigerian ports: Empirical evidence and policy recommendations. Nigerian Journal of Petroleum and Gas Policy, 3(2), 33–51.
Pfeffer, J., & Salancik, G. R. (1978). The external control of organizations: A resource dependence perspective. Harper & Row.
Roso, V., Woxenius, J., & Lumsden, K. (2015). The dry port concept: Connecting container seaports with the hinterland. Journal of Transport Geography, 17(5), 338–345. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtrangeo.2008.10.008
UNCTAD. (2022). Review of maritime transport 2022. United Nations Conference on Trade and Development. https://unctad.org/rmt2022
Yamane, T. (1967). Statistics: An introductory analysis (2nd ed.). Harper and Row.
