Hyacinth Chinweuba
Terminal operators have blamed the increasing congestion at the nation’s ports on overtime cargoes in the system.
According to the terminal operators, the leadership of the Customs has not auctioned overtime cargoes for some years now, adding that this was causing serious problem at the ports.
The terminal operators, including shipping companies and other stakeholders were responding to calls by the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Hadiza Bala Usman to urgently address the issues of congestion in the ports.
Usman had urged the service providers to quickly look for ways of evacuating the empty containers, waive demurrage for a definite period of time and increase free days of storage based on concerns raised by importers.
The NPA MD explained that the stakeholders meeting was on the directive of the Vice President and Chairman, Ease of Doing Business Council, Professor Yemi Osinbajo as a solution to the problem of congestion in the ports.
She urged the shipping companies to patronize ports outside Lagos as part of the efforts to address the congestion.
Usman told the stakeholders that efforts have been made for the use of barges to move some of the containers to Ikorodu.
She also said that measures are being taken to ensure that the access roads in Apapa become better as soon as possible.
Usman had also appealed to the Customs Service to consider auctioning overtime cargoes.
In her response, the Chairman of Seaport Terminal Operators Association of Nigeria (STOAN), Princess Vicky Haastrup pointed out that the measures being adopted by the federal government will have negative effect on revenue.
Other service providers also expressed similar views to support what the STOAN chairman said.
Usman however explained that the measures were just to address issues on emergency which will be reviewed over time.