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Tag: congestion

  • Lagos courts in state of emergency over congestion, says CJ

    Lagos State Chief Judge (CJ), Justice Opeyemi Oke, has said the state’s courts are in a state of emergency.

    This is the fallout of the evaluation of 2,886 old case files, including a 70-year-old matter, under its Backlog Elimination Programme (BEP).

    The BEP is a programme designed to decongest the courts by re-evaluating old cases and find ways to resolve them through Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) or accelerated hearing.

    The CJ said the 70-year-old case, the oldest in the pack, is “seeking to enforce a judgment”.

    Justice Oke broke the news while opening this year’s edition of Lagos Backlog Elimination Programme, organised by the State Judiciary, BEP and Lagos Court of Arbitration (LAC) at the Foyer of the High Court of Lagos State in Igbosere.

    The CJ recalled that during her inauguration last October, she identified as foremost what she called inordinate delay and court congestion, which disfigured administration of justice and formed the bane of the state Judiciary.

    She also said it clogged her promise to redress the two problems on assumption of duty in her efforts to restore public confidence in the Judiciary and make administration of justice quick and efficient.

    Justice Oke regretted that the “delay has led to public ridicule of the Judiciary, which is supposed to be the hope of the common man”.

    She added: “This delay, coupled with the continuous filing of new cases, has led to congestion of the courts with a ridiculous number of backlog of cases. The result is that the courts are now in a state of emergency.

    “Presently, there are hundreds of cases in the court dockets that are over five years; the oldest is a 70-year-old case. This is a far cry from what can be said to be a reasonable time. Ideally, the matters ought to be concluded in weeks, months or, at most, a year. Many of these cases ought not to be in court at all as they could have been resolved through ADR.”

    Citing Section 36(1) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, The CJ averred that the rights to fair and reasonable timely trial before a court or tribunal is one of fundamental rights of Nigerians.

    She said this explained the need for action to be taken to redress the situation through the BEP and recourse to ADR.

    Justice Oke this was the reason the BEP was inaugurated in January – to decongest High Court of Lagos State of the mentioned old cases.

    The CJ said the first phase of the BEP would involve evaluation of old cases in batches – by volunteers from different law firms.

    She added that the volunteers were through with the first batch involving case files that were five years old and above.

    According to her, the second batch will involve case files of 10 years and above and the third batch will involve case files of 15 years and above.

    Justice Oke said work had begun on case files that were 25 years old and above.

    He said: “After evaluation, facts of each case are summarised, causes of delay identified and recommendation would be made as to efficient means of disposal, whether by ADR or accelerated hearing.”

    Giving a summary of the cases evaluated, Justice Oke averred that land matters accounted for majority of the backlog cases, followed by commercial matters – which are based on breach of contacts, debt recovery, mortgage matters, bank and customer-related disputes, matrimonial causes, probate and enforcement of judgments.

    The CJ said majority of the cases were at trial stages.

    On the possibility of settlement, she said 59.3 per cent of the cases were not suitable for ADR while 49.3 per cent were suitable for resolution through the mechanism.

    Justice Oke said the remaining 1.4 per cent were either recommended to be struck out or parties had reportedly settled matrimonial causes though settlement to ancillary reliefs could be referred to ADR.

    LCA President Yemi Candide-Johnson, who delivered a lecture, titled: Discussing the Future of Access to Justice and Delivery of Justice in Lagos State: the Role of the Courts and Backlog Elimination Programme, said indices confirmed that civil justice system was failing and that delay, especially was affecting prompt, efficient and effective justice to the users of the court.

    He added: “The goal of a global Lagos cannot be achieved unless the public has confidence in the mechanism of prompt and efficient dispute resolution and, above all, unless they trust and respect the Judiciary.

    “It is obvious that trust and respect will be lost, if there are corrupt and inefficient practices that result in delay at the courts. These are things researched and identified and analysed in ongoing BEP.”

     

  • Stakeholders move to end Apapa gridlock, port congestion

    Stakeholders move to end Apapa gridlock, port congestion

    The Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola, has called for the collaboration of all stakeholders to tackle traffic gridlock, port congestion and other problems in Apapa and its environs. He made this call at a stakeholders meeting on the ongoing Apapa Wharf Road reconstruction project in Lagos, last week.

    The stakeholders at the meeting included the three financiers of the project, AG Dangote Construction Company Ltd, Flour Mills of Nigeria Ltd and Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA).

    Others were National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), Association of Maritime Truck Owners (AMATO) and National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), among others.

    The stakeholders, after extensive deliberations, agreed to resolve issues of logistics and regulation of truckers and port operations.

    They called on shipping companies to return to the system of using their loading bays and effective call up systems to end port congestions.

    They also  advised AP Molar Multi Terminal (APMT),  whose cargo operations take hours to emulate the operations of Port Terminal Multipurpose Ltd (PTML) who have perfected the act of evacuating cargo within minutes.

    They agreed that emergency interventions should be carried out on the roads around Coconut bus stop area and some other bad portions.

    They resolved to have another inclusive meeting to carry Shippers, government regulatory agencies and other stakeholders who were absent at the gathering along to evolve permanent solutions,

    Fashola advised the stakeholders to organise forums where they could proffer solutions to the problems and make recommendations to government to speed up solutions on various issues.

    The minister stressed the need to put other ports in the country  to use to reduce pressure on the two major ports in Apapa and promised to work with his transport counterpart, Mr Rotimi Amechi,  to involve the rail sector in finding solutions.

    He called for sacrifice on the part of the various stakeholders as the Yuletide season is approaching to ensure speedy solution to all the problems.

    “During this period when everybody is sacrificing something, let us sacrifice, it is an exchange everybody must sacrifice.

    “This is not about us, it is about everybody,” he told stakeholders.

    He explained that procurement process for the Oshodi Tin Can Island road was ongoing.

    Earlier, Fashola had inspected ongoing rehabilitation works at Costain and its environs, which he told journalists was to ensure smooth roads during the festive period.

    Honorary adviser to the Dangote Group, Mr Joseph Makoju said that Dangote was handling and co-funding the Apapa Wharf Road reconstruction project as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).

    Makoju said that it was painful that the project was being misunderstood by both the public and a section of the media who make negative remarks against the Dangote Group instead of  commending it for giving back to society.

  • Dealing with prison congestion

    Sir: The menace of congestion in various prisons across the country has become worrisome and if not promptly looked into is capable of defeating the very purpose of establishing prisons, principal among which is to serve as a reformative, rehabilitating, correctional and re-integration facility for the betterment of the inmates, country and society at large. According to the National Bureau  of  Statistics (NBS) as at February,   72%  of inmates  in Nigeria   prison  formations are awaiting  trial persons.

    The   prolonged trials and overuse of imprisonment for minor offences     have   done   more damage   than good to  all; it constitutes a major threat to the welfare of the inmates and  on  the individual. Most minor offenders during the years or periods of awaiting trials and even after being tried and sentenced are locked up with hardened criminals who in turn influences them, making them become hardened thereby becoming terrors to the society at large after being released from prison. Also the attitudes of the society and stigma attached to a person who has committed a minor offence and has served a jail term could make him or her feel unwanted in the society leading to his desire to deliberately commit grievous offences that could send him or her back to prison.

    In order to reduce the rates at which most of our prisons are being congested and to achieve the primary purpose for which most of these corrective facilities were established for, I think it is high time non-custodial measures such as community service are adopted as alternative to imprisonment for minor offences. Neither the criminal code act nor the penal code act of Nigeria makes provision for community service as a form of punishment for minor offences and misdemeanour. But with the spate at which our prisons are being congested with awaiting trial inmates, it has become imperative for its inclusion in the laws governing crimes as there are array of instances whereby community service would be apt as an alternative to prison or jail term.

    Community service is a form of punishment wherein the offender, usually in cases of minor offences and/ or a first timer, is given a social responsibility in lieu of a jail term. This form of social responsibility ranges from sanitation, farming, cleaning public drainages, bush clearing, helping out in other local government functions amongst other activities.

    One great benefit of community service as a sentencing option is that it would help in the  overhauling of the criminal  justice system  and aid the  fast tracking of  justice delivery while  giving  room  for  decongestion of  our  prisons. Another benefit is that it would save the government the high cost of maintaining prison inmates while such funds could be expended on other meaningful developmental projects in the country.

    I wish to commend the effort of the Ogun State Judiciary under the Chief Judge, Hon. Justice Olatokunbo Olopade for the programme of quarterly decongestion of prison formations across the state particularly of Awaiting Trial inmates.  Commendable also is the Vice President Yemi Osinbajo’s position encouraging governors to give their assent to capital punishment or otherwise commute death sentences to prison terms to address the perennial problem of prison and correctional congestions in their various areas of jurisdiction.

     

    • Akinpelu Funmilola,

    Abeokuta, Ogun State.

  • Stenographers and court congestion

    Sir: the case of court congestions and delay in the administration of justice is not new in this country with reports of how congestions and delay in court cases had resulted in civil and criminal cases spending years in the court. It is a fact that every features, analyses, seminar, lectures and opinions on court’s congestion seem to agree on the possible cause for the congestion and usually arrive at the same solution to the congestion but the question is always why has there not been a way forward?

    One of the several solutions proffered to deal with court congestion is the use of stenographers (otherwise known as Official Court Reporters).

    The use of stenographers had been experimented at the Federal High Court and in the Court of Appeal and it has produced great result in helping the speedy administration of justice with most judges who are lucky to have stenographers attached to them having the experience of being availed with the court’s proceedings within 30 minutes of each court sitting.

    The only snag to the availability of stenographers is the high cost of training them (millions of naira) and time of training a stenographer (more than 18 months intensive training). This had hampered the efforts by the judiciary to make court stenographers readily available for judges despite the request from many judges for stenographer to aid their works. Presently, less than 30 percent of the federal courts in Nigeria have stenographers, though there had been recent moves by the courts to have more stenographers trained for such purpose and I believe that by the time most courts have stenographers in place, it will go a long way in tackling court’s congestion.

    One of the advantages of the use of stenographers in court is the fact that the Advance Real time Recording Machine (the machine used by stenographers) captures virtually all the dialogues during court proceedings, this allows transparency and efficiency when it comes to justice delivery. Moreover, the use of the machine to capture proceedings allows for digitalization of court proceedings, a departure from the long hand system being used; with this, lawyers and litigants can get access to the proceedings as early as 30 minutes after each sitting whenever they apply for it.

    I understand that the Lagos State judiciary had also adopted the use of stenographers and are presently training more stenographers for the Lagos State High Courts and I am sure that by the time the whole judiciary decide to fully embrace the use of stenographers in court as being used in other countries, it will go a long way in battling cases of delay in the administration of justice.

    • Felix O. Adewumi,

    Lagos.

  • Lagos tackles congestion with exciting projects

    Lagos tackles congestion with exciting projects

    WITH a vehicular density of about five million and 20 million trips daily, 90 per cent of which is borne by its network of roads, the Lagos State Government but continually evolves strategies to address traffic congestion, to reduce travel time and make it more pleasurable for residents.

    Gone are those nightmarish traffic jams. Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has been expanding the road networks to accommodate increasing commuters’ demands.

    The state has continued to witness an “almost unbridled population growth”, which the World Economic Forum (WEF) last January, described as “the fastest-growing in the world”.

    WEF’s 2015 statistics stated that Lagos was growing at the rate of 85 persons per hour ‑­ faster than London and New York, with nine and 10 persons per hour. WEF’s report further stated that while London reached a record of 8.6 million inhabitants in 2015, Lagos grossed over 20 million residents same year.

    Though this growth has continued to task its capacity to control traffic, the state, in the past 16 years, has returned to the drawing board to evolve what it called Strategic Transportation Master Plan (STMP), the backbone of which is the promotion of public transportation system.

    Commissioner for Transportation Dr Dayo Mobereola said STMP was the safest, cheapest and most reliable form of transportation. This, according to him, is because public transportation ensures fewer vehicles are on the road. Mobereola, who for 10 years headed the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transportation Authority (LAMATA), the engine room of the state’s transportation reforms, said public transportation would help reduce Green House Gases (GHG), and prolong the lifespan of the roads with a reduction in the dead weights of vehicles causing damage to roads.

    However, while the government continues to innovate on public transportation, it has also doubled its road construction pace to reduce congestion.

    With the delivery of 114 inner roads (Trunk C), which the government mandated the 20 local government areas and 37 local council development areas to construct, the narratives of gridlock experiences by residents have considerably improved.

    But the government seems not to be resting on its oars. It has addressed traffic-prone areas to ease congestion and make commuters more comfortable.

    One of such developments is the slip (alternative) road at Olopomeji/Car Wash on Iyana Oworo, which will address the congestion on the Third Mainland Bridge. The slip road is part of the state’s efforts to enhance the experiences of travellers on the major arterial road to the Island, the major financial district.

    The slip road from Olopomeji to Ifako is about 1.65km long with an under pass at Ifako.

    “Before the introduction of these ideas, it usually took between four to five hours at peak periods to make the journey to Oworo from Obalende, or to hit Obalende from Oworo on the Lagos Island carriage way. With the creation of multiple laybys on both sides of the road, travel times have been reduced to 40 minutes,” Mobereola said recently, adding that this would further be reduced when the slip road is completed.

    Similar interventions are simultaneously going on at Abule-Egba, where a fly over bridge is being built to reduce the pressure on the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway. The project, which is about 65 per cent completed, will lessen the nightmarish experiences of residents living in Iyana-Ipaja, Meiran, Alagbado, Alakuko and on Sango axis, who often spend about seven hours on the road daily.

    Another  fly-over is planned for  Pen Cinema, Agege, which has become a no-go area for many residents during peak periods. Announcing the intervention, government said the project, which would take off in a matter of weeks, would be completed in 26 months.

    Last Friday, Ambode visited Ojodu-Berger to see the contractor handling the multiple laybys which will complement the pedestrian bridge built by his administration.

    The project, expected to be completed in December, is exciting residents, who believe it will greatly improve traffic on the main artery into the state.

  • Death-row congestion

    How long should a convict on death row wait for death? This question came up again on April 13 when the Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Olufunmilayo Atilade, paid a visit to the Kirikiri Prison in Lagos.

    A report said that the Lagos State Controller of Prisons, Timothy Tinuoye, asked Justice Atilade to “prevail on the government to do something”  about the 171 condemned prisoners awaiting execution in the maximum security prison.

    According to the report, Tinuoye observed that “governors had stopped signing the execution warrants of such convicts following the controversy that trailed Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole’s approval of the execution of some condemned criminals a few years ago”.

    Importantly, the prison chief suggested that the condemned prisoners be relocated in order to decongest the prison.  This death-row congestion is inexcusable. As long as the death penalty is accommodated by the country’s justice system, there is no justification for keeping condemned convicts waiting.

    It is clear that the purpose of a death sentence is to facilitate death by execution. It is counter-productive to have a condemned convict wait indefinitely for the execution of a death sentence, particularly because of the possibility that death may come during the waiting and consequently achieve what the sentence didn’t intend, which is death by causes other than execution. If a condemned person does not die as a result of execution, it would mean that the death sentence was foiled. What is the purpose of a death sentence that is not put into effect, and which does not achieve death by execution?

    Although there may be philosophical arguments against capital punishment, it is complex enough to arrive at a death decision, and the complexity should not be further complicated by last-minute indecision when it comes to executing the decision. If judges are able to reach a death decision without the interference of extra-judicial considerations, the authorities should be able to carry out the decision without the hindrance of extra-legal thoughts.

    The debate about the death penalty did not begin today and it is not about to end.  In the face of the emotionally charged controversy about the ultimate penalty for the ultimate crime, it may well be that the structures of power ought to take another look at the law. Hardball says: do something, instead of doing nothing.

  • Natural cure for nasal congestion

    Nasal congestion in simple terms is known as a ‘blocked nose’ or ‘stuffy nose’. This happens when there is swelling in the nasal cavity, leading to a buildup of mucus. As a result, it becomes difficult to breathe normally. This is a symptom often associated with colds, flus and allergic reactions.Nasal congestion can be more than merely annoying. It is important to treat it immediately or it can cause other problems, such as ear infections, restless sleep and so on.

    There are many ways to clear congestion. This very common problem can be easily treated by using ingredients already in your kitchen. Use any of these remedies as needed to relieve discomfort until you are well again.

    Garlic

    Garlic is on of the best home remedies for reducing nasal congestion. Its antiviral and antifungal properties help fight the respiratory infection causing congestion.

    •Boil two to three garlic cloves in one cup of water. You may also mix in one-half teaspoon of turmeric powder. Drink it daily until the congestion clears.

    •Eating fresh garlic cloves can also help relieve stuffiness and discomfort.

    Apple cider vinegar

    Apple cider vinegar can quickly clear a stuffy nose as it helps thin the mucus. Plus, being rich in several nutrients, it is also good for your overall health and immunity.

    •Mix two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar and one tablespoon of honey in a cup of warm water.

    •Drink this two or three times a day at least for a few days.

    Steam inhalation

    Inhalation therapy is another popular home remedy for instant relief from nasal congestion. It works as a natural expectorant to clear the congestion and also lubricates the irritated respiratory tract. You can do this two to four times a day.

    •Add one tablespoon of crushed carom seeds (ajwain) to boiling water and inhale the steam (keep your head about an arm’s length away from the bowl from which you are inhaling the steam).

    •You can also add a few drops of peppermint essential oil to boiling water and inhale the steam.

    Note: Steam inhalation is generally not recommended for young children because of the risk of scalding. Also, it may not be suitable for pregnant women, and those suffering from high blood pressure, heart condition or central nervous system disorders.

    Nasal irrigation

    Nasal irrigation with saline solution can also be used to treat nasal congestion. It helps wash away the mucus and irritants from the nasal passages.

    •Mix one teaspoon of salt in two cups of distilled warm water.

    •Use this solution for nasal irrigation using a neti pot or some other irrigation device.

    •Repeat once or twice daily for a few days.

    Note: Make sure to use distilled or previously boiled water for nasal irrigation and wash the irrigation device after each use.

    Eucalyptus oil

    Eucalyptus oil is highly beneficial for those suffering from nasal congestion, thanks to its decongestant and anti-inflammatory properties.

    •Simply put one or two drops of eucalyptus essential oil in a fresh handkerchief and inhale the aroma. Do this a few times a day.

    •You can also use eucalyptus essential oil on your pillow so you can get the benefits of this oil even when you are in deep sleep.

    Warm water

    When suffering from nasal congestion, it is important to aid a steady flow of mucus through your nasal passages. Warm water can be of great help in this regard. It will also keep the nasal passages moist and prevent them from drying out.

    •Using a humidifier can help open up clogged nasal passages.

    •You can also run a hot shower for several minutes so that steam builds up in the bathroom. Breathe in the soothing vapours. Repeat twice daily until you recover completely.

    •Another option is to wet a washcloth in warm water and place it over your face. Leave it on for 10 to 15 minutes. Repeat several times a day.

     

    •Source: www.top10homeremedies.com

  • ‘How judges, magistrates contribute to prison congestion’

    ‘How judges, magistrates contribute to prison congestion’

    The Nigerian Prisons Service (NPS) has attributed the growing incidence of congestion in prisons and death of inmates to the delay in the nation’s criminal justice system and attitude of prosecutors, who mostly do not handle cases diligently.

    The NPS argued that judges and magistrates engage in delay and abuse their pre-trial detention discretion. It queried the wisdom in the practice where prosecuting agencies bring multiple charges against accused persons in different courts, when such cases could be consolidated and tried with dispatch.

    The Service,  in a statement issued in Abuja by its Public Relations Officer (PRO), Ope Fatinikun, reacted to allegations linking it with the deaths of some prison inmates. It denied involvement in the illegal killing of inmates as claimed in a recent publication by rights activist, Femi Falana (SAN).

    Citing the most recent case of death in prison of the alleged trans-border criminal, Hamanni Tijanni, Fatinikun said the late inmate died as an awaiting trial, having been on trial for over 10 years, during which he was taken to various courts for more than 100 times.

    Tijanni’s cases, Fatinikun said, were never completed before he died.  Tijanni, from Benin Republic, was being tried for his alleged complicity in the robbery attempt on the vehicles conveying the daughter of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Iyabo. He was first remanded in the Maximum Security Prison, Lagos by a Chief Magistrate Court in Ijebu- Ode, Ogun State on June 22, 2003. He remained in prison until his death.

    “Tijanni, was remanded in Maximum Security Prison,Kirikiri, Lagos on June 22, 2003 by the Chief Magistrate Court, Ijebu-Ode, for allegedly receiving stolen property. On December 12, 2003 an Abeokuta High Court also detained him, having been charged with conspiracy to commit armed robbery. A Lagos High Court remanded him on February 14, 2004 for allegedly receiving stolen property.

    “Trial in the Abeokuta High Court case began on 2nd February 2005. Despite the constraint of inadequate vehicles at the Lagos State Command, a vehicle was dedicated to him (Tijanni) since he was standing trial in multiple cases in different locations in Lagos and Ogun States,” he said.

    Fatinikun said Tijanni was taken to courts 194 times before he died on December 19, last year. He gave details to include:  Chief Magistrate Court, Ijebu-Ode, 50 times; Abeokuta High Court, 37 times and the Lagos High Court, 117 times.

    “On December 7, 2007, after about four and a half years, as awaiting trial person, he was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment by the Ijebu-Ode Court; the Abeokuta High Court discharged him for lack of diligent prosecution, while the Lagos High Court was still hearing his case till his death.

    “The Maximum Security Prison, Kirikiri has a referral hospital, which caters for the medical needs of all inmates in Lagos. The hospital runs 24 hours and usually has about four doctors on shift duty.

    “On admission, Tijanni was diagnosed with hypertension and was placed on drugs. But on February 20, 2011, his condition deteriorated, the hypertension became severe and he was immediately admitted into the Maximum Prison’s referral hospital.

    “On February 13, last year, Tijanni took voluntary discharge from the hospital and refused medication despite his blood pressure being very high and as against medical advice. The Welfare Section of the prison referred him to the Counseling Unit. The Controller of Prisons, Lagos State Command advised him against such action, but all efforts proved abortive.

    “Sadly, on the night of June 16, last year, Tijanni had a left sided stroke and was rushed to the Maximum Security Prison’s referral hospital, where he was initially admitted for stabilisation. On June 18,  (less than 48hrs after the initial stroke) he was referred to the Nigerian Navy Reference Hospital, Ojo, Lagos (with card no 07-08-38).

    “He was seen by a cardiologist, and Physiotherapist and treatment started the same day. He was usually taken to the Navy Hospital every two days and was always seen by the Cardiologist as and when due.Based on his condition, the prisons formerly wrote the Lagos State’s Attorney-General on Mr. Tijanni’s health challenges and the need to expedite action on his trial, which was characterised by frequent adjournments.

    “To this effect, on December 24,  the Attorney-General of Lagos State sent a team of doctors from the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) to ascertain the health conditions of Mr. Tijanni. The team examined him and took samples for investigations. The team promised to come back, but never did until his death.

    “Finally, Mr Hamanni Tijanni died in his sleep on December 19. All necessary agencies were notified and autopsy was carried out by the Lagos State Government in the presence of members of his family and lawyers. The report of the autopsy is available ,” Fatinikun said.

  • FAAN,Customs, others lose N200m to ports’ congestion

    As the protest by clearing agents and freight forwarders over air arbitrary charges by foreign cargo airlines lingers, the Nigerian Customs Service Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO), Aviance Plc Skyways Aviation Handling  Company Limited ( SAHCOL) and other  operators at the cargo wing of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos  have lost over N200 million as revenue because of the uncleared cargoes at the tarmac.

    The loss is sa a result of the refusal of clearing agents and freight forwarders to clear cargoes flown in by international cargo airlines.

    A source close to a Customs clearing agent said, the agencies earn about N22m daily from major international airport on cargo operations.

    The bulk of such earnings come from Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos. Fifty percent of cargo volumes coming into the country are from the Lagos Airport, while Kano remains the second busiest in terms of cargo.

    For eight days, inbound cargoes piled up in Lagos and other airports, raising fears of further congestion if the matter is not resolved.

    Attempt by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to resolve the matter failed at the weekend, as a meeting between the affected airlines, clearing agents and freight forwarders ended in deadlock.

    Agencies affected by the refusal of the clearing agents and freight forwarders to clear cargo include Nigerian Customs Service, FAAN, NAHCO and SAHCOL.

    NAHCO Aviance said it has not stopped the clearing of goods in its warehouse.

    In a statement signed by its spokesman, Mr. Sanya Onayoade, the firm stated that the clarification became necessary due to insinuations making the round that  it had stopped clearance of goods as a result of a disagreement between some major airlines and customs licensed clearing agents.

    While urging a speedy resolution of the issues by the parties, NAHCO Aviance said its facilities are open for business in both its export and import warehouses.

    It said to resolve the impasse, NAHCO had begun 24 hours cargo operations.

    ‘’This is sequel to the agreement reached between the organisation and Nigerian Customs Service to extend its hours of operation at the Cargo Airport Complex.

    ‘’With the commencement of the 24-hour cargo operations by nahco aviance, there would be prompt facilitation of cargoes.

    This would reduce the stockpiling of cargo at the tarmac and bulk breaking areas due to enhanced operational capacity.

    ‘This will also lead to proper maximisation of cargo potentials thus expediting on timely delivery to customers, smoother flow of operations and enhancing daytime capability,’’ it said.

  • Port congestion affecting our members, says NACCIMA

    The Nigerian Association of Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) has decried the effect of congestion on the ports access roads on its members, saying some of their members have been forced to close shop due to lack of access to their places of business.

    In a visit to the Apapa Port yesterday, the Chair of the Export group of NACCIMA, Mr. Oluyenuwo Olabisi, said the congestion and long queue of vehicles are creating a lot of problems for the export group, as their containers are sometimes turned back, while most of the time they miss their ships, leading to huge losses for their members.

    He lamented that the concessionaires do not have enough capacity for containers adding to the gridlock experienced in the transportation of the containers.

    Olabisi also called on the Port Manager, Nasir Mohammed to adress the delays suffered by exporters, saying priority should be given to the exporters, as against empty containers that go into the ports.

    Chief Executive of Harlink Investment Limited, Alhaji Inaolaji Liadi Nofiu called for greater efficiency of the port concessionaires . He said most of them do not have enough cargo capacity for export and empty containers. He called on the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) to check corruption at the ports, saying the vice is affecting the export business of their members.

    Responding, the Apapa Ports Manager, Mohammed, called for a collaborative effort between all the stakeholders in the ports, saying that they are also worried about the congestion at the ports and the losses it occasioned for exporters.

    He said they are devising measures to check the congestion. He said their investigation has revealed that the conjestion is occasioned by the failure of the shipping companies and terminal operators to provide holding bays for ships. He also decried the attitude of truckers that bring in containers even when they are not scheduled to enter the ports. He said: “Ideally, a single container should drop and pick the imported products and not the clogging that is obtainable because every truck struggles to enter the ports.” He said shipping companies are supposed to be responsible for the containers.

    On NACCIMA members that have closed shop in Apapa due to the congestion and lack of access to their offices, he said NPA has engaged an effective task force to decongest the access road so that they will return to business.

    He said henceforth, export and empty containers will maintain different lanes to the ports to give the export group advantage as the government is supporting export business, which he said is more beneficial to the economy.

    He pledged to establish an effective technical committee between NACCIMA and other stakeholders to discuss the way forward, stressing the need for the ports to operate smoothly and ensure efficient cargo movement.

    NPA Chief Commercial Officer, Alhaji Lamina Abdulrahaman called on government to relocate the tank farms, stressing that the nearness of the tank farms to the ports is a big disservice to the port users especially those engaged in export business.