The Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), in conjunction with other stakeholders, is making frantic effort to nip in the bud a resurgence of congestion at the container terminal in Apapa, Lagos, operated by APM Terminals.
Spaces at the container terminal are getting filled up and will soon make it difficult for new containers to be discharged if not addressed soon.
Customs Area Controller, Apapa Area One Command, Idris Suleiman, said arrangement is in place with management of APM T to free up some spaces currently being occupied by overtime containers (containers that have spent more than the statutory period at the port without being cleared by the owners).
“We have arranged with APM terminals to begin evacuating overtime containers to Ikorodu terminal, which is meant to receive overtime cargo. Overtime containers eat up space at the port,” he said.
Chairman of the Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Apapa chapter, John Oforbike, had raised alarm on Thursday, during a stakeholders’ forum organised by Apapa Area One Command of Customs that congestion is massively building up at the Apapa container terminal.
He attributed the development to delay caused by various agencies involved in cargo clearance at the port.
He said the agencies just delay containers on the flimsiest reasons whereas the law allows for containers to be released after examination by all the agencies.
When there are issues not relating to the examination, there is provision for the agency to store the container in its own warehouse pending when the owner comes to clear whatever discrepancies.
Suleiman corroborated this by saying that once released have been secured for containers from customs control, the affected agency not yet satisfied with the importers documentation could take the container to its warehouse or that of the importer and seal the place pending when it is satisfied.
By this, he said, container would have left the port to free space for other containers to be discharged.
The command on Thursday held its monthly stakeholders’ meeting, which was attended by representatives of all the security and regulatory agencies in the ports as well as licensed Customs agents, Cotecna and APM Terminals.
The issue of examination timetable for cargoes was addressed at the meeting and it was resolved that beginning from June 27, one-stop-shop examination of cargo will formally commence at the port.
Then, all agencies of government involved in cargo examination will undertake joint undertake same with Customs.
Also, examination forms will be signed by the relevant agencies at the point of examination, this will eliminate unnecessary delay, which breeds corruption.
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