Influence of Maritime Logistics on Economic Orientation of ports in Nigeria

This study examined the influence of maritime logistics on economic orientation of ports in Nigeria.The study was anchored on port regionalization theory.Cross-sectional/survey design was used for the study.Data were obtained through a structured survey questionnaire.The population of the study consisted of all the 6 ports in Nigeria.The sample elements of the study consisted of 40 managerial staff from each of the 6 ports, resulting to 240 respondents and that constituted the sample size.The study used descriptive and inferential statistical tools to analyse the data.Pearson Products Moment Correlation Coefficient (r) was used to test the hypotheses with the aid of SPSS 25.0.The reliability of the research instrument was tested using the Cronbach Alpha.The study found that demand forecasting, warehousing and transportation make credible maritime logistics components that influence the current contributions of economic orientation in the port.The study found that economic orientation is achieved in ports after giving satisfactory bundles to clients/customers through effective and efficient services.The study concluded that: Demand forecasting (r =0.801); warehousing (r = 0.731) and transport (r = 0.753) have significant relationship with economic orientation of ports in Nigeria.This study, therefore, recommended that government should create and encourage conducive maritime logistics environment so that the operators can benefit from the economic gains and that ports should design effective and efficient maritime logistics strategies, implement and monitor them in collaboration with major strategic port operators for port development initiatives