Congestion: NPA, NCS collaborate to evacuate 400 overtime containers to Ikorodu

As a way of addressing the current state of congestion at the Lagos Port Complex, which is now worsened by the lockdown order to curb the spread of the COVID 19 pandemic, the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), in collaboration with the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), has agreed to fast-track the clearance of over 1,500 overtime […]

As a way of addressing the current state of congestion at the Lagos Port Complex, which is now worsened by the lockdown order to curb the spread of the COVID 19 pandemic, the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), in collaboration with the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), has agreed to fast-track the clearance of over 1,500 overtime containers trapped inside the ports.

Already, 400 of the containers already inspected by NCS officials are now being moved to the federal government’s overtime cargo warehouse at Ikorodu, Lagos State.

The Managing Director of NPA, Hadiza Bala Usman, who was on a tour of the Lagos ports, comprising Apapa and Tin-Can Island ports, said that the move was to facilitate the discharge of containers from vessels during the lockdown period.

Usman urged importers and agents to use the window to evacuate their cargoes, warning that government would not tolerate any lukewarm attitude on the part of importers or agents who might view government gesture as a tax holiday.

“We have discussed with the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) and they have given approval for 400 containers to be cleared and moved out of the port to the federal government overtime cargo warehouse at Ikorodu. That is the same across the board for all terminals. Why we are calling on all consignees to come out and collect their cargoes, they should also be mindful that some of these cargoes that are considered overtime are being moved to Ikorodu where they will be auctioned in line with the guidelines stipulated by the NCS.

“The issue of overtime cargo, the issue of improvement and efficiency and cargo handling equipment is across the board. That is why we have deployed clearly within our revised concession agreement metric, where every time terminals don’t improve on their equipment there will be sanctions. I think sanctioning and penalties are what work cross the world. People must be sanctioned if they are not doing their work,” she said.

She chided certain organisations linked to the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) for listing Nigeria among the 70 countries that have shut down their ports due to Covid-19.

“I am curious as to what agency will list Nigeria among countries that have shut their ports. I think entities should be held accountable to wrong listing and false information because the shipping companies are very much aware that the Lagos port is operational. Vessels berthed yesterday and they have been berthing every other day,” she said.