Govt, port operators lose N40bn to Apapa Port strike

The National Association of Government Approved
Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) on Tuesday said the
Federal Government and port operators lost about N40
billion to the 11-day strike which crippled Apapa Port in
last month.
This is contained in a statement made available to newsmen
in Lagos by the Public Relations Officer of the
association, Mr Simeon Nwonu.
The statement described the strike as “needless’’, adding that
there was no reason for it.
It expressed concern over the long ship waiting time
experienced at the port during the strike.
“For avoidance of doubt, it is on record that the alleged
complaint against APMT operations (the concessionaire of
the Apapa Container Terminal) is not peculiar to Apapa
Port.
“The issue of arbitrary charges is a matter which affects
almost all terminal operators in Nigerian ports.
“This matter at present is being handled by the Nigerian
Shippers’ Council (NSC) as the commercial regulator.
“We are aware that a case is pending at the High Court
between the terminal operators and Nigerian Shippers’
Council with regards to arbitrary charges,’’ the statement
said.
“APMT is a world-class terminal operator and an
investor in Nigeria that requires the support and protection
of our country.
“If the agency of government which had the schedule to
administer our ports had performed well, it is obvious that
our ports may not have been concessioned,’’ NAGAFF
said.
The statement said that a good example was that of the
Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) which had retrieved its
statutory function from the service providers after several
years, with the help of the freight forwarders of Nigeria.
“We do hope that the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA)
will take advantage, using its oversight functions to ensure
that our ports are friendly and competitive.
“The essence and primary objective of port concession is to
bring about efficiency, competitiveness and reduction of
costs.
“It is most unfortunate that human element problems,
including but not limited to corruption; non-compliance
with import regulations, disregard for rule of law and
inadequate cargo handling equipment are the bane of our
port operations.
“The Nigerian seaports like any other all over the world
is a transit area for goods and persons,’’ the statement
said.
It said: “what we see today is that ports are being used as
warehouses and thereby distorting the entire system in
ports administration and management.’’
NAGAFF said that Section 31 of the Customs and
Excise Management Act (CEMA) was clear as to the
dwell time of cargo in the ports which should not exceed
30 days.
The statement said: “thereafter such goods would be moved
out of the port for further action, including but not limited
to processes leading to auction.
“The point herein is to ask why uncleared cargo lists are
not being prepared and such cargo transferred to the
designated outer terminals.
“Progressive port charges for unlawful stay of cargo in
our ports become necessary as a deterrent to the
defaulters.
“It is also a fact that the cargo scanners are not optimal in
their performance, due to frequent breakdown,’’ the
association said.
The statement condemned the administration of the Pre-
Arrival Assessment Report (PAAR) regime and
maintenance of the scanners by the customs service with a
`meagre’ sum of 7 per cent of the total duty collected.
It said that the service had to attend to the general
welfare of officers and men, salary, capital projects and
other logistics required to ensure an efficient customs
operations.
“We advocate that the Nigerian Shippers’ Council be
allowed to conclude the on-going court processes with the
terminal operators to resolve the issue of arbitrary charges
and other incidentals,’’ it said.
The statement directed all members of NAGAFF to
exercise restraint in any matter leading to the closure of
the port and explore all amicable avenues with the
authority.