By Godwin Oritse|
CONTRACTORS to the National Independent Power     Project (NIPP) have accused some foreign shipping     firms and the Nigeria Customs Service of deliberately frustrating the timely clearance of  containers carrying equipment for the power project.

In a minutes of a meeting held by the Fast track Committee on NIPP, contractors relayed their experiences  about the frustrating attitude  of these shipping firms in the course of clearing power project containers. According to the minutes

“Different complaints were lodged by some contractors and agents on their experiences and some of their encounters during the course of clearing  consignments with Customs officers and shipping companies Some shipping companies could be unnecessary difficult as well as some Customs officers. There is a need for the Federal Government’s intervention on the matter on ground” they said.

They also complained that what is obtainable in Apapa port is not applicable in  Tin-Can Island port and other commands Despite the fact duty exemption has been granted to all PHCN/NIPP/NDPHC materials/equipment and it is expected that all documents are to be normalised soonest to avoid accumulation of demurrage on the materials

Meanwhile, about 4,000 of such containers are trapped in the port, as others are scattered at different site across the country.
The Committee, Vanguard gathered has scheduled to visit some of the shipping firms involved in the shipment of these container to work out the modalities of clearing the containers.

It will be recalled that most of the containers came into the country during President Olusegun  Obasanjo administration and have remain in the ports ever since.Effort to speak  to some of the shipping companies were futile as most of them declined comments when Vanguard visited their offices.