Sensitivity analysis of performance of Nigerian ports using data envelopment analysis

Abstract

With cognizance to some differences among the ports and complexities in productivity measurement, the research tries to identify and evaluate productive issues in terms of technical efficiencies (managerial efficiency) and scale efficiencies (managerial and allocative efficiency) experienced at individual Nigeria ports. It equally provided a technical benchmark for assessing the overall efficiencies of the respective ports in Nigeria during the pre-concessioned and post-concessioned era. The level of inputs required for each DMU to be efficient is given i.e. for DMU 2014 to be efficient input-wise, the number of berth may be reduced by two units as a result of idleness of this two (2) berths, the average turnaround time may be reduced by 3 hours and the berth occupancy may be reduced by 3%. Since a fixed asset such as berth cannot be reduced therefore technically and complimentarily the turnaround time and berth occupancy rate need to be decreased more than 5hours and 3% respectively by allocating the queue ship at the over-utilized berth to the idle berths which in turn will mitigate underutilization of this berths been required to be reduced or alternatively the port should embrace more cargo handling technology to enhance fast loading and discharging of cargoes thus attracting more vessels to the Port.