FG Promises Enhanced Cargo Clearance At Ports

Posted by admin Latest Politics, Rivers, State News Wednesday, October 2nd, 2013

The Federal Government yesterday promised to install the necessary technology to ensure prompt clearance of goods at the ports.
Executive Secretary, Nigeria Shippers’ Council (NSC), Mr. Hassan Bello made the promise in Lagos at a meeting with terminal operators, clearing agents and service providers.
Bello said that it was regular human contact that had contributed to delays in clearing goods and congestion at the ports.
He said that there must be cogent reasons before any cargo could be routed for physical examination.
“We do not want cargoes to be delayed. Terminals are transit facilities for delivery of cargo. It is in the interest of the terminal operators to have more throughputs.
“The more you clear the cargoes, the more turnaround time for ships owners,” Bello said.
He gave assurance that the council would monitor the cargo dwelling time and the procedure by shippers for clearing goods.
Some stakeholders told reporters that the congestion and delays in clearance of goods at the ports were due to certain factors.
Mr Taofeeq Balogun, Liaison Manager, Cotecna Destination Inspection Ltd., a service provider, said that false declaration of goods often caused the delays.
“If you declare that a cargo contains a bag and while examining it, it is discovered that it contains something else, definitely it will go for physical examination,” he said.
He said that analysis of cargoes was being done by the Customs, while COTECNA provided the facilities.
Mr Ugo Eze, a clearing agent, said that a major challenge being faced by agents was rerouting of cargoes by the customs.
Mr Richard Akinbobotu, Manager, Tin-Can Island Container Terminal, said that some containers were delayed because they were seized, suspected or under litigation.
Akinbobotu said that over 1,000 TU containers had being in the terminal for over a year and could not be moved outside the terminal because of litigation.
Mr Boniface Aniebonam, Founder, National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), said that freight forwarders were not opposed to scanning, but the delays and double handling processes.
Aniebonam said that the freight forwarders were unhappy because of the extra cost of repositioning the containers for physical examination.

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