The Nation Newspaper

Tag: containers

  • Police recover 287 stolen containers

    Police recover 287 stolen containers

    Operatives of the Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) Maritime Command have recovered 287 stolen containers belonging to international shipping companies.

    The operatives also intercepted a 40ft container allegedly loaded with contraband items including mayonnaise smuggled into the country from the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

    The AIG in charge of the Maritime Command, Susan Akem-Horsfall, disclosed these at a press briefing.

    Akem-Horsfall said the container, which was already cleared by the Apapa Command of the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, was flagged by the police following intelligence that it wrongly declared its content.

    According to her, two suspects, Obiora Udenkwo and Chika Igwingu were apprehended in connection with the container.

    She dismissed as false, allegations that personnel of the command were blocking already released containers and extorting clearing agents, stressing that the intercepted 40ft container indicated possible connivance between clearing agents, terminals and shipping companies, and operatives of other security agencies to release cargoes wrongly and shortchange the Federal Government of needed revenue.

    The AIG said shipping documents listed that the container was laden with two fairly used vehicles and assorted spare parts only for the police to discover during re-examination that the container was loaded with Mayonnaise, and bales of centre rugs, among others.

    Read Also: 450 die in road crashes in Niger

    She, therefore, appealed to sister agencies to come together and operate on the same page to avoid friction and economic sabotage.

    Reeling out achievements recorded by the command under her watch in one month, Akeem-Horsfall said: “Recovery of already stolen over 287 empty containers for MSC Shipping, Maersk Nigeria Ltd and other shipping companies.

    “One Izuchukwu Udeogu, who is a kingpin in the theft of empty containers, was arrested and charged to court.

    “Secondly, there has been an improvement in our intelligence gathering and the deployment of cutting-edge technology in policing our waterways. This led to the arrest of a 40ft container that is on display here.

     ”On assumption of office, I have written several letters inviting the Comptrollers of Customs at Tin Can Island Port and Apapa Port. The Apapa Port Comptroller responded because their Comptroller had just been promoted, the Deputy, who was acting for him, sent the DC Enforcement who came over and we discussed. “But up till now, the Comptroller of Customs Tin Can Port has not responded. I have had meetings with Shippers Council, and Terminal Operators and we have discussed areas in which we can all operate on the same page so that work would be seamless, however, I am not getting a good response from them.”

  • APM Terminals waives charges on containers for IDPs

    Nigeria’s leading container terminal operator, APM Terminals Apapa Limited, at the weekend waived handling and storage charges running into several millions of naira on a container load of fish which was donated by the Federal Government to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Yobe State.

    The Federal Government, through the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), had directed that the 40-feet container laden with Tilapia fish and confiscated by the Apapa Area Command of NCS be released to the Nigeria Army Corps of Supply and Transport (NACST) for onward delivery to Yobe State for the use of IDPs.

    According to the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), an Internally Displaced Person is someone who is forced to flee his or her home but who remains within his or her country’s borders.

    More than 40 million people have become displaced worldwide within their own country as a result of violence, with majority of the new displacements occurring in Nigeria, South Sudan, Syria, Democratic Republic of the Congo and Iraq.

    When contacted, the Managing Director of APM Terminals Apapa, Mr. Martin Jacob said APM Terminals is always willing to support the host government in any country it operates in bringing succour to its citizens as a way of giving back.

    Jacob also said APM Terminals is supporting the Nigerian government’s food export drive through the provision of modern cold chain transportation alternatives for farmers in the agricultural centers of northern Nigeria to bring fresh produce intact and unspoiled to market centres in Lagos.

    He said the initiative could save an estimated 15 million metric tons of perishable goods, including onions, potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, okra, ginger and carrots, which are lost annually due to poor logistics infrastructure and high transportation costs.

    APM Terminals Apapa is the largest container facility by capacity of the three serving Lagos, Nigeria’s largest city and business centre.

     

     

    It is also the largest container terminal operation in West Africa, having doubled container traffic after concession began in 2006, with dramatically improved productivity.

    A USD350 million investment and expansion programme was announced for APM Terminals Apapa since 2006. The company currently operates the Apapa and WACT Onne facilities in Nigeria, with plans to develop a third at Badagry.

  • Agents kick against transfer of containers to off-dock terminal

    The President, Nigerian Importers Integrity Association (NIIA) , Godwin Onyekazi, has criticised the move to transfer containers to off-dock facilities, especially the Ikorodu Lighter Terminal (IKLT) in Lagos.

    Onyekazi  said the seaports were operating  below capacity and urged the Nigerian Ports Authority ( NPA) not to transfer long-standing (overtime) containers to offdock terminal. He said there is “ample space at Apapa and Tin-Can Island ports.”

    “Congestion in the terminals has always been cited as the reason for transfer of containers, but the economic downturn has resulted in less than 40 per cent  yard-occupancy for most terminal operators; effectively undermining the reason for the  transfer overtime cargo to Ikorodu,” he said.

    The NIIA chief said the sector suffered a huge blow last year, with the ever-increasing foreign exchange rates and a sharp decline in cargo volume, saying that “businesses, banks and social institutions surrounding the ports have closed as a result of the reduction in business faced by the ports.

    “A recent statement by the Senate in November 2016, highlighted the fact that the containers that have already been transferred to the Ikorodu Lighter Terminal have been abandoned with goods worth billions of naira rotting away daily; alluding to the fact that  inadequate maintenance facilities exist for the containers there. Therefore, moving even more containers will result in a sharper decline in the condition of containers and cargo, and that could lead to wastage.”

    He said moving overtime containers to offdock terminals may give room for importers to avoid payment for their accrued charges,  thereby encouraging importers to abandon their cargo at the port with the aim of facilitating movement to Ikorodu so they can procure them as overtime cargo.

    This, he argued, “undermines the integrity of terminal operators’ authority and processes leading to complete loss of revenue to terminal operators despite handling costs incurred and fulfilled financial obligations to the government over the years on such containers.”

    He said to transfer overtime cargo to Ikorodu Light Terminal will only result in huge additional cost burden to the government, given that the cost of moving the containers from various terminals to Ikorodu will be borne by the NPA.

    “This move will result in additional handling of containers which comes with increased cost of doing business for terminal operators; as well as likely claims from damages from handling during such a transfer.

    “There exists also the risk of loss of cargo to the consignee/importer due to allegations of diversion of cargo in transit from previous transfers and pilfering due to insecurity at Ikorodu terminal.

    “The extra cost to be incurred to carry out the transfer can be avoided, especially in times like this when all sectors and efforts should be focused on saving and not wasting public funds.

    “Combined with the recession, this move will only serve to compound the woes of the already suffering maritime sector; it will not bring additional business or progress whatsoever,” he said.

    Onyekazi added that the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) is more certain of collecting appropriate import duties on the containers at the main ports.

  • Fashola: govt’ll recover 900 seized power tools’containers

    The Federal Government is  to recover 900 containers of transmission equipment seized by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS).

    The equipment were siezed, following the importers’inability to pay their duties.

    Minister of Power, Works and Housing Mr. Babatunde Fashola, said at a stakeholders’forum organised to create awareness on the use of made-in-Nigeria products in Lagos that the government would first recover 400 containers, and later the others to improve power.

    According to him, the delay of clearing was caused by the inability of the importers, mainly contractors hired by the government, to execute power projects to raise money for clearing.

    Fashola said: “Several transmission projects have been delayed; the contractors handling the projects have either abandoned them or refused to commence work on them, due to funding. As we speak, the government is trying to recover some containers of transmission equipment that was trapped at the ports. Shortage of equipment is making the country to experience transmission hiccups.”

    The minister said  problems in the value chain could be seen in the poor electricity generation, distribution and transmission in the country.

    The grid, Fashola said, could wheel only 3,500 megawatts (Mw) of electricity, adding that the grid can be expanded to 5,700Mw by syncronising and simulating it.

    The Minister said when the grid is expanded, it would help in wheeling and boosting electricity supply in Nigeria.

    On review of the Electric Power Sector Reforms Act (EPSRA) of 2005, which set the tone for the reforms in the industry, Fashola said the EPSRA could only be reviewed when Nigerians provoke a debate on the Act if there is need to change some grey areas in it.

    He said the government was leaving the review of the Act at the doorsteps of Nigerians in order to align  with the democratic norms, which emphasise the need for the citizens to have a voice on who, why and how their government is being run.

    He said: “The parliamentarians who enacted the laws guiding the 2005 power sector reforms deserve some commendations. However, there is need for improvement because anything done by men and women is not perfect. Whenever there is a rethink on legislations on any issue, the people, who elected the parliamentarians, must come in. This is the time, in which people, must speak to their representatives on laws that require some amendments or modifications. This is what lobbying is all about.

    “Is there a legislation, which endures forever? Is anything made by men and women perfect? I have my issues in the ways and manners in which the privatisation process was carried out. But the question is: Can I unmake yesterday? Not in the way some people are expecting but I can make it better. If the review of the Act would be good, I would take to that but the operators in the sector must show a reasonable level of support. I mean the support that would be in the interest of the larger society.’’

     

  • One dead, eight injured as containers fall on shanties

    One dead, eight injured as containers fall on shanties

    A 40-year-old woman Ngozi Nwankwo, was yesterday crushed to death when five containers fell on some makeshift structures in Ijora Badia, a slum in Lagos.

    More than eight persons were injured in the incident, which happened near the Ijora rail line.

     It was gathered that the containers, were being offloaded at the SIFAX Ijora Depot when they were blown away by the wind that preceded yesterday’s rainfall.

    Eyewitnesses claimed the containers fell because the labourers offloading them were drunk after attending the depot owner’s birthday party before resuming work shortly after midnight.

    Rescuers comprising the Police, Lagos Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Fire Service, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) and Lagos State Ambulance Service (LASAMBUS) have rescued those trapped underneath the containers.

    It was gathered that the late Nwankwo popularly known as Ezinne in the neighbourhood came out at about 5:30am when one container fell on a nearby shanty but rushed back inside to dress up.

    Her unclad body was recovered with her head shattered; she was holding her mobile phone.

    The injured include Anderson Nwachukwu, 32; Jide James; Ayinu Ayoola; Babatunde Ayetomowo, Ife, Bukky and Aina.

     It was gathered that an unidentified young man who was rushed to the hospital alongside three others, was vomiting blood when he was rescued.

    A hairdresser who gave her name as Abimbola Ogbaro said she saw the first container fell and alerted others.

    She said: “It happened around 5:30am. I was outside washing clothes when I heard a very loud sound. Breeze was also blowing then. So, when I heard the sound, I looked towards the direction it came from and I discovered that a container was falling.

    “I started shouting and calling my neighbours to run for their lives. I quickly abandoned the clothes, went into the house and carried my two children.

    “Over 100 people stay in the eight structures that were affected. So, people started rushing out. Ezinne came out too that time but she was naked. She later went back inside, maybe to put on her clothe but another container fell on her and killed her there.

    “About five big containers fell. One container fell on Babatunde’s back and injured his head and back seriously. The containers blocked everywhere. Those who were trapped were dragged out through small holes and whisked out from the back (Ijora under bridge side). My shop has been destroyed now. That is where I survive from and that is where we stay too.

    “People were crying for help but owners of the containers did not come. They did not even act as if anything happened. It was one of our neighbours who called her sister who then called the government people before they came to our aid and removed the containers,” she said.

     Another victim, Aminat Kolapo whose shop and three rooms were destroyed said she was lucky to have saved her three children.

    The woman, who said she came out carrying her 18-month-old baby when she said a thunderous sound, told The Nation that she immediately rushed back inside for her other two other children.

    She said: “When I heard the sound, I carried my baby and came out to see what was happening. Then, I saw a fallen container and others coming down. The first thing that came to my mind was to run back into the house and carry my other children who were trapped.

    “I quickly took them and ran away. They are all I was able to secure. I could not get anything out of my house. Not even a pin. Where will I get money to start all over again now? How will I get money to rebuild this place now that planks are very expensive? It will cost not less than half a million to rebuild what I have lost?

     “I sell charcoal and also collect rent from my tenants. That’s how I have been surviving but now that this has happened, I do not know what to do.”

    Nwachukwu, 32, said he escaped death by whiskers, adding:

    “I do not know how I managed to get out of the place. I was inside when the containers fell on the structures. I guess it was one of the containers that opened the door for me and I ran out.

    “I am a trader at Lagos Island and I stay in Satellite Town. But because of the early morning traffic, I usually slept here, which is my brother’s shop for two days in a week. That way, am able to beat the traffic.

    “As at the time the container fell, two women occupants were already outside. My brother was outside too and I was able to run out.

    “I only had minor injury on my head. I just thank God that I am alive to tell the story.”

    The residents called on the government to prevail on the depot owners to compensate the victims.

     It was gathered that Obinna Udeze’s shop and three rooms were destroyed; Oyesanmi Ola lost a shop and a room; Blessing Ogbaro, a shop and Samson Enigbokan, two shops.

    Bose Ishola lost four rooms, Shola Imani’s three rooms and a shop were destroyed and Ayetomowo lost eight rooms and a shop.

    The Nation gathered that the Police Railway Command in Apapa invited the depot manager for questioning. Some of the victims have also made statements.

    Police spokesperson Dolapo Badmos, a Superintendent (SP), some of the rescued were taken to hospital, adding that investigation will be conducted to ascertain the cause of the mishap.

    LASEMA General Manager Michael Akindele said the containers fell on adjoining illegal structures by the railway line, blaming the cause on operational error.

    Akindele said: “Investigation conducted by the agency’s ERT (Emergency Response Team) at the incident scene revealed the containers fell on adjoining illegal shanties due to operational error during relocation of the containers within the premises overnight.

     “Further assessment revealed that operational activities were carried out without flood lights and operational safety procedures.

     “Two adult male sustained bodily injuries and have been treated by LASAMBUS. Unfortunately one adult female was taken out and confirmed dead by the agency. She was identified as Ezinne. The body has been handed over to the State Environmental Health Monitoring Unit (SEHMU). Proper investigation would be conducted by relevant agencies on the matter. Companies need to ensure adequate safety measures are put in place during operational activities.”

  • Reps seek action against container-carrying trailers

    Reps seek action against container-carrying trailers

    The House of Representatives has decried the menace of articulated long vehicles that carry container on Nigerian roads.

    The lawmakers have tasked the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) on being more proactive about its responsibilities of managing heavy duty trucks on Nigerian roads.

    The Commission was also urged to actually perform its functions of a professional road safety organization.

    The decision of the lawmakers followed the adoption of a motion by Nkiruka Onyejiocha (PDP, Abia), who noted that safety of lives and property of Nigerians is critical following numerous accidents around the country involving trailers conveying containers

    While recalling a recent accident where a container-ladden trailer skidded off the Ojuelegba bridge in Lagos and landed on two vehicles, killing more than 10 persons instantly,
    the lawmaker regretted that the incidence triggered multiple accidents, with fleeing motorists and commuters sustaining varying degrees of injuries.

    She said: “We are aware that an ongoing operating code named ‘Operation Scorpion’ which aims at arresting trailers with unlatched containers, however this has not yet yielded the desired benefits for commuters

    “In other jurisdictions, there are proactive road safety management schemes in place such that trucks are barred from plying the roads during the daytime, especially where there are alternative routes.

    “However, there is no such scheme in place.

    “It is also of concern that despite seeming efforts by relevant agencies involved in providing safety for road users, lives and property are still being lost as a result of the menace by some trailer drivers who do not follow existing rules, thereby jeopardizing lives.”

    The motion was unanimously adopted after it was put to a voice vote by the Speaker, Yakubu Dogara.

  • Curbing deaths from falling containers

    SIR: It is appalling and pathetic how the country continues to lose her citizens in callous road mishaps on daily basis. Most disturbing is the fact that majority of these road accidents are highly avoidable if, and only if, the appropriate authorities had been proactive and willing to enforce the relevant traffic rules without fear or favour.

    Last week, the media was dominated by shocking images of a 40-feet fully loaded container which fell off at the ever-busy Ojuelegba fly-over bridge crushing three occupants of a Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) in the process, while a driver of another vehicle barely escaped death by a whisker. From different accounts of this sad event, one thing remains abundantly evident; both the driver of the articulated lorry and the state traffic management officials acted without due diligence. A particular eye witness, according to media reports, allegedly made efforts to stop the lorry from using the bridge at material time without success. Curiously, officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LATSMA) were also reported to have dissuaded this patriotic Nigerian, even when it was overtly obvious that the driver of the ill-fated truck was violating the traffic rules and heading for danger.

    The Ojuelegba tragedy was not the first time the state would record such a tragic incident in the recent past. In January this year, a young woman and her son were crushed to death after an unhooked container fell on them at the Ketu bus-stop. We can’t also forget in a hurry the Anambra incident of a few weeks ago where an entire family was wiped out when an unlatched container fell on a bus they were travelling in. Countless number of these misfortunes occur every now and then in virtually all the major cities in the country. Authorities appear to be as helpless as the victims of these sad events in terms of addressing it.

    Interestingly, there are explicit rules and regulations on how these articulated trucks should operate. What baffles one then is how various states have continued to allow the menace to fester amidst existing regulations. For instance, the Lagos State Traffic Law, 2012, places a restriction on articulated trucks on the road from 6.00pm – 9.00pm. For avoidance of doubt, Section 2 (1) of the said law states clearly that “Save as may be prescribed by the Commissioner by Regulation, no trailer other than petrol tankers and long vehicles used in conveying passengers, shall enter into or travel within the metropolis of Lagos between the hours of 6.00am-9.00pm”.  Subsection (2) further prescribes a fine of N50,000 or a term of imprisonment for six months or both upon conviction on the said offence.

    Sadly, this law appears largely a dead wood as far as its enforcement and implementation are concerned. The state is yet to prosecute a single offender of this law.  Yet the truck drivers continue to violate the law on daily basis with impunity. If the Lagos State government had deployed similar zeal it adopted in enforcing the sections that deal with motorcycle and tricycles restrictions from selectd areas in the metropolis in checkmating these trucks, many lives would have been saved in the process. One does not want to believe that the law was merely targeted only at the Okada operators in the state. It is absolutely sad that the state government has refused to enforce the law in spite of deadly activities of these truck drivers in the state.

    The rule that every articulated trucks carrying goods must be properly latched before taking off should be implemented and enforced to the letter. There is also a need to train the personnel of various traffic outfits in the state for an effective enforcement of the law.

    It is also important that the driver and owner of the ill fated truck be made to answer for their callous negligence. The families of this unfortunate mishap and other road users in the state need to be reassured by the Lagos State authorities that no pin will be left unturned in bringing the culprits to the long arm of the law, while hoping it restores sanity on the roads. Thankfully, the state governor,  Akinwunmi Ambode, has issued directive to relevant authorities to begin to implement the laws henceforth . However, Nigerians and Lagos residents are waiting anxiously to see how this will play out in the days to come even as it is sincerely hoped that this will not just be one of those grand standings by the government.

     

    • Okoro Gabriel, Esq.

    Lagos.

  • NCC confiscates 20 containers of pirated works

    NCC confiscates 20 containers of pirated works

    The Lagos zonal Director of National Copy Right Commission, NCC, Barrister Chris Nkwocha has debunked the claim that the Commission is doing nothing concerning the recent piracy of some notable movies at Alaba market in Lagos, noting that the Commission has just confiscated about 20 containers of pirated works which include books, musical works and films at the point of entry. He said the products were worth N10 billion.

    Nwocha who spoke to The Nation in an exclusive chat said the container was seized by the men of the Customs at the point of entrance, noting that all hands are on deck to make the country an unbearable place for piracy to triumph.”We have about 173 cases of piracy in various courts throughout the country “

    According to him, despite the challenges the commission is facing, it has done a lot to stem the activities of the pirates in recent times, adding that when his Commission received a distress call on February 9, 2015 from Mr. Gab Okoye that some of his movies, ‘Tango with Me’, ‘Phone Swap’ and ‘Onye Ozi’ were pirated, his men swung to action and one Mr. Samuel Oluchukwu Eze was arrested.

    He explained that on the same day, his men also apprehended another man, Mr. Donatus Madu who was charged to court on May 12th but the culprit which was granted bail refused to turn up, a situation which forced the court to issue a bench warrant for his arrest and was brought to court on 26th of May where he was arraigned before Justice O Ajumogobia of the Federal High Court, Lagos.

    The Director pointed out that the commission has not relented in its fight against piracy noting that in the recent past pirated works which comprises literary, musical and films worth about N6billion were bunt. “The purpose of the burning exercise was to demonstrate the Commission’s commitment to zero tolerance for policy on piracy and send a warning signal that piracy would no longer be a profitable venture,” he said.

  • Importers abandon N1b containers, vehicles at port

    Importers abandon N1b containers, vehicles at port

    Over 120 containers and 96 vehicles worth over N1 billion have been abandoned at Tin-Can Island Port and other bonded terminals in Lagos, following the importers’ inability to clear them, it emerged last weekend.

    Source said the importers are finding it difficult to get loans to fund their business.

    The devaluation of the naira is also said to be affecting their operations.

    A source said the Nigeria Shippers’ Council (NSC) is not making things easy for the importers by not getting terminal operators and shipping firms to reduce their charges.

    The Vice Chairman, Association, Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Tin Can Chapter, Mrs Ada Akpunonu, said importers abandoned their goods for two main reasons:

    • the ports are the most expensive in West Africa; and

    • the unstable exchange rate.

    Banks, she said, have stopped lending to importers because of the fall of the naira and the increase in the prices of goods.

    “There is no doubt that activities at the ports have reduced because of the exchange rate.. The terminal operators and the shipping companies are also not helping matters. Our port is the most expensive in the sub-region. Most importers are not making profit and that is why they have decided to abandon their goods at the ports.

    ‘’At the Tin-Can port where I am the Vice Chairman, congestion has started to build-up. The Shippers’ Council has to something ditto the Federal Government. Many goods are trapped at the port; there is bound to be congestion, most of the importers borrowed money from the banks; before they collect their Bill of Lading, they must make the payment, but what is happening now is that, with the exchange rate, they are finding it difficult to get the balance and pay back to collect the papers and clear their cargoes.

    “Many importers with Bill of Lading are also finding it difficult to pay Customs duties because of the value of the naira and that is why goods worth billion of naira are trapped at the ports.

    “As it is now, there is no cargo that does not go into demurrage in Nigeria because the  shipping companies start collecting money immediately the cargo arrives at the port.” she said.

    She said importers pay N199 as official rate to a dollar for Customs’ transactions.

    A Customs officer, who pleaded anonymity, said many goods were trapped at the ports because of the new exchange rate and the fast-approaching general election.

    He said: “We are aware that many importers are finding it difficult to pay their duties, but there is nothing we can do because that is the revenue we are asked to collect by the government. Once an importer brings an item into our port, he must pay the necessary duty unless he or she was given waiver before the importation commences.

    “Except he pays the amount required by law, the only alternative opened to him is to abandon the goods. And that is why we are having so many containers, trucks and vehicles in the ports that have not been cleared by the importers. But my advice to them is to look for money, pay the duty and move their vehicles out of the ports before they become over-time cargo and confiscated by the government.

    “Some of the importers abandoned their goods because they believe that after the election the value of the naira will go up, but they have forgotten that the price of oil has gone down at the international market, which is affecting the value of the naira and prices of goods imported into the country,” the officer said.

    An importer, who pleaded for anonymity, said he took a loan to import some of the items that are trapped at the port.

    “The majority of us in the importation business take loans from the banks to remain in the trade. Once there is a delay in bringing the goods out of the port, our investment would suffer and we would not be able to pay staff salary talk less of employing new ones.

    “Don’t forget that before we can move the goods out of the port now or later, we pay a lot of money to the shipping company, the terminal operators and the truck drivers.

    “The delay we are facing was caused by the government policy to devalue the naira and not calling the terminal operators and shipping companies to order,” he said.

  • Congestion looms as 10,000 containers are trapped at ports

    Congestion looms as 10,000 containers are trapped at ports

    • No cause for alarm, say terminal operators

    Over 10,000 containers are trapped at the Lagos ports, making congestion imminent.

    The containers got trapped because of the inability of the terminal operators to cope, importers said.

    The terminal operators, it was learnt, cannot position for scanning more than 200 of the 5,000 containers that arrive at the Apapa and Tin Can Island ports in Lagos daily.

    The operators, however, say they have the capacity to position over 1,000 containers for scanning daily, adding that they are doing 200 because of an agreement with Customs.

    They are blaming the problem on lack of equipment, sources said.

    The spokesman of the importers, Mr Folagbade Mosaku, claimed that the operators are asking them to pay for their self-inflicted problems.

    Investigation by The Nation showed that over 100 importers and their clearing agents met secretly in Lagos last Friday to strategise on how to shut down the port over what they called the ineptitude of some operators.

    The importers and their clearing agents alleged that in some terminals they are compelled to pay arbitrary charges that are not part of the agreement the operators signed with the Federal Government through the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA).

    When The Nation visited Apapa port last Friday, many trailers were kept on the highways and the port access roads because of the operators’ inability to load and off load containers.

    The government, port security sources said, must find out why the operators can only position more than 200 containers for scanning daily despite the large number of containers shipped into the country.

    From the beginning of this month, over 6,000 of the 10,000 containers have been trapped at the Apapa port. The importers are also compelled to pay N1,500 as storage fee on each of the containers for the first seven days after arrival.

    At the expiration of the seven days, importers pay N3,000 on each container daily and after 14 days, they pay N9,000 as storage fee for the 20-foot container and N12,000 for the 40-foot container.

    Some agents accused the operators of asking them to pay storage fee for the number of days they had to wait before their containers are positioned for examination.

    The charges, the agents said, are inimical to their business.

    The Chairman, Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) Apapa chapter, Mr Olumide Fakanlu, said the number of containers the operators position for scanning is worrisome.

    The operators, Fakunbi said, disappoint customers when it comes to effective service delivery. He urged the Minister of Transport, Senator Idris Umar and the Board of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) to call them to order.

    Over 60 per cent of shippers, whose goods arrived at the Lagos Ports between January and last week, he said, had paid over N1 billion for the delay that arose from the positioning of their containers for scanning.

    He warned that unless the government addresses the problem, the congestion will persist.

    But the image maker of the APM Terminals, Mr Bolaji Akinola, denied the allegation.

    He said the terminals had invested billions of naira on equipment to position over 1,000 containers daily.

    His words: “APMT has the capacity to position much more than 200 containers daily. The 200 we position daily is the quantity jointly agreed between Customs and APMT.”

    Akinola added that APMT is also increasing its container stacking area at Apapa by additional 300,000 square metres. The company, he said, would soon take delivery of the first batch of five Rubber-Tyred-Gantry (RTG) cranes it ordered from Kone Cranes as part of terminal yard redevelopment and expansion.