By Folashade Alli
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has slammed the management of leading terminal operators, APM Terminals Nigeria Limited over its poor operations at the port.
Customs also threatened to shut down activities at the Apapa Container Terminal which handle about 70 percent of container traffic in Nigeria, if operations does not improve.
The directive was issued by the Comptroller General of Customs (CGC), Dikko Inde Abdullahi in Apapa yesterday following the Customs order for transfer of more than 5,300 containers out of Apapa to offdock terminals in Lilypond and Kirikiri Lighter Terminal in the last two months as a temporary measure to ease the tension caused by delay in cargo clearance due to inadequate cargo handling equipment at the terminal.
The Customs boss who expressed disgust at the terminal’s perpetual operational deficiencies, also chided importers and agents for continuously patronising a place that give them so much trouble despite the huge profit they make to enrich their own country.
Dikko who was obviously tired of the barrage of criticisms trailing cargo handling operations including positioning and inspection site issues, wondered why no appreciable improvement recorded even after some ministers of the Federal Republic have visited the terminal.
However, Customs agents at the sensitisation complained of delays in positioning of containers for scanning and the poor working environment at the APMT container inspection site which has not been tarred, seven years after concession.
Dikko used the forum to enlighten the freight forwarders on the provisions of the newly introduced customs portal; The Nigerian Trade Hub and Pre-Arrival Assessment Report (PAAR), which will replace the Risk assessment Report (RAR), when the service takes over the destination inspection scheme.
“I will close down the terminal until the condition that custom officers can operate properly is met. Many ministers have come here and they report this issue, but I will show them the power of customs.
“This issue of APMT, I have said it times without numbers, we all allowed them to be doing what they do in Nigeria, they cannot go to any other country and operate the way they operate here. It is only when you give them work that they can operate, if you don’t bring containers they cannot operate, tell your importers to desert them, they are not the only people carrying containers.
“The last time I visited Ports and Cargo, it is owned by a Nigerian but look at the equipment they deployed there, but APMT is packing your money and building another country, we should hold them responsible.”
Freight forwarder who took turns to speak at the meeting expressed happiness with the bold steps promised by the CGC, saying complains given over the years have been falling on deaf ears.
Reacting to the issue, the spokesman of APMT, Mr. Bolaji Akinola described all allegations against the company as false. He said on telephone that the company is investing so much funds in carrying development at the terminal, which is in the third phase of terminal development, saying the inspection site and other areas are part of that phase.
Adding that, as part of its development APM Terminals Apapa is preparing for the delivery of five new Eco-RTGs (Rubber-Tyred Gantry Cranes) this month as part of the third phase of a US$135 million terminal upgrade announced earlier this year.