By Godfrey Bivbere

APM Terminals and Apapa Area1 Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) are set for serious confrontation over filthy working environment, which was raised by the Minister for National Planning, Shamsudeen Usman.

Similarly, top management staff of the company last week visited the terminal for first hand assessment.

The high powered team from APM Terminals includes former Head of State and Chairman, Board of Directors, Chief Ernest Shonekan and visiting global Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Kim Fejfer.

Both outfits are locked in counter allegations over the condition of the examination bay.  Management of APM Terminals recently accused the Customs of refusing to utilise the N640 million ultra-modern physical examination facility it built and handed over to the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) in 2010, while the Customs described the accusation as false.

While efforts to reach the Customs Area Controller (CAC), Charles Edike, on phone proved abortive, the Public Relations Officer of the Command, Emmanuel Ekpe, said he could not comment on the issue until he consults with his boss.

However, a source in the Command told Vanguard that the claim of the private terminal operator is not only false but a publicity stunt which is intended to rubbish the minister, who declared the examination bay as filthy and inhuman.

The source said that the CAC last week Friday visited APM Terminals and charged them to show him the N640 million facility.

He asked the firm to make the necessary amendment or he would be forced to call a press briefing on the issue.

He, however, lamented that despite the huge investment of $4 million (about N640 million) made by his company in building the facility, Customs has refused to use it preferring rather to use a make-shift open area thus subjecting importers and their agents to harsh weather conditions.

Recall that Hampton had said that the facility was specially built by his company three years ago to provide decent and conducive office accommodation to officials of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and also serve as facility for the physical inspection of containers and for related administration of Customs operations at the terminal.

Hampton said that the multi-million naira Customs building has 14 container examination bays and 235 square metres net office area all built to British standard and fully equipped with modern electronic gadgets and information technology.