By Godfrey BIVBERE
APM Terminals Apapa Limited, has granted a 70% waiver on charges incurred on all  longstanding containers belonging to the National Integrated Power Project (NIPP) which have been lying at the terminal for about three years.

The decision, according to the company management is in support of Federal Government’s drive to enhance generation and distribution of electricity in the country.

Managing Director of APM Terminals Apapa, Mr. Martin Dirks, who disclosed this in Lagos over the weekend, said that the concession was in line with his company’s philosophy of supporting the growth of the Nigerian economy and in deference to the directive of Vice President Namadi Sambo who requested that all concerned stakeholders make necessary sacrifice to achieve government’s desire of providing uninterrupted power supply to Nigerians.

“I must commend the Federal Government and indeed His Excellency the Vice President for the passionate commitment he has exhibited in this regard and the least we can do at our end is to support the government’s aspiration.”

Bolaji Akinola, Media Adviser, APMT quoted Dirks to have said “This is why we have granted this waiver of up to 70%. It is costing us a lot of money but we are very happy to do it in support of the Nigerian economy and the good people of this nation.

Dirks also stated that APMT is working with the special committee set up by the Vice President and headed by Assistant Comptroller General of Customs Olufemi Taylor to ensure that all the NIPP containers at the terminal, numbering about 250, are cleared within the next two weeks.

Vice President Sambo, had on Wednesday in Abuja, assured all shipping companies and terminal operators that government was going to give an indemnity/guarantee for the payment of whatever amount was due to the Lines and Terminal Operators and gave a standing order that the NIPP containers must leave the port within two weeks of receipt of the indemnity/guarantee.

The committee chaired by Olufemi Taylor is made of representatives of the Shipping Lines, Terminal Operators, NIPP, PHCN, Customs, Contractors handling the power projects, NPA, Ministry of Power and Special Adviser to the president on power.

The Niger Delta Holding Company (which operates the NIPP) was mandated by Vice President Sambo to provide an indemnity/guarantee for the payment of the charges by the contractors within sixty (60) days of delivery, failing which they will pay the sum immediately and deduct the sum from the
contractors payment.

The NIPP contractors were mandated to provide the container numbers of all their containers lying in the Ports to the various terminal operators who will prepare the invoice and determine the necessary waiver and the sum payable; which will be included in the letter of indemnity. The government

also undertook to withdraw all the auction papers already issued regarding the said NIPP containers and asked the terminal operators not to honour such auction papers any more.