By Godfrey Bivbere & Providence Obuh

Federal Government weekend issued a 30 day ultimatum to port terminal operators to address the observed lapses in cargo clearing at the ports. The terminal operators were also reprimanded for their inconsiderate attitude to government operatives working at the ports.  This is coming on the heels of complaints leveled against port terminals by stakeholders in the maritime industry over maltreatment to port users in their efforts to take delivery of cargoes the ports.

Speaking during a visit to the Apapa container terminal, APMT and Tin-can Island Container Terminal (TICT), Apapa, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Maritime, Mr. Leke Oyewole, and expressed shock over the scanning machines left idle at the terminals.

Oyewole identified inadequate equipment as the biggest challenge facing both the TICT and APMT, saying, “APMT is similar to TICT in terms of these inadequacy of equipment, they do not have enough equipment to position cargo for inspection, no adequate equipment to move cargoes for scanning, it surprised me to find out that scanners are virtually idle. It is not the fault of the people working here, it is not the fault of the customs officers, it is the fault of terminal operators. “In the cause of the tour of Tin-can, we did not see anybody move truck for scanning and they have lot of things waiting to be scanned, that is contrary to what we thought is happening at the port,” he stated.

For APMT, he explained, “the thirty days ultimatum was coming as a result of the fact that Ministers have met with them and had agreement with this people, and all they promise to do, uptil now they have not done. If you cannot honour the Minister, how can you honour somebody like me, however, am taking this to the President.

“APMT cannot be bigger than Nigeria and the totality of the concessionaires cannot be bigger than Nigeria. We have the masses to protect, it is not their wish, it is not what they desire but it is what Nigerian wants.”

Meanwhile, some officials who accompanied the President’s special assistant on the tour, agreed that terminal operators should cooperate and work with all the stakeholders, truck owners, shipping agents and NPA to ensure that they come up with a strategy aimed at ensuring that goods evacuated and return empties, without hindrance to free flow of traffic along the road.  The participants promised to come up with their position within 48 hours, which according to the SA, will be incorporated into the Presidents report for further consideration.

Urging operators to provide holding bay, the stakeholders urged the President to direct Nigerian Port Authority, NPA to enforce their agreement with the shipping company, adding that “should any of them default, henceforth, services should be suspended for such shipping company,” they concluded.