Port concessionaire, ENL Consortium Limited has indicated readiness to commence full time containers handling operations .
This, according to management of the terminal was based on the lull in cargoes import and government policies somersault.
The terminal operator is the official owners of terminal C and D of the Lagos Ports Complex (LPC).
Assistant General Manager, ENL Consortium, Mr. Abiodun Marcus in a chat with government officials on a working visit recently, noted that the facility was concessioned as a multipurpose terminal , thus the need to begin Twenty foot Equivalent Units (TEUs) operations at a time when business has been unfavourable.
Marcus further decried government flip flop policies as another constraints affecting its operations noting that ban on rice, fertilizer, sugar and other commodities has negatively crashed revenue generation of the terminal operator.
He affirmed that at the beginning of the concession agreement, ENL terminal handled a total of 1,500 Metric Tonnes of cargoes but later rose to 4,000 MT barely two years of operations .
The AGM added that 24 hours power generation solely managed by the concessionaire negates profit oriented business venture.
According to him, traffic situation in Apapa community has not encouraged shipping and port businesses to thrive but maintained that with the NPPM Implementation Committee in place, the tendency for such issues would be resolved in a short period.
He also explained that despite the numerous challenges faced by the concessionaire, taxes and levies were paid as at when due to the federal government from inception of the port concession adding that workers salaries were also settled as at when due.
The AGM also frowned at delays on the importation of spare parts for the maintenance and replacement of equipment at the terminal ; which in turn affects operations due to some policies established by Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
ENL terminal is known for bulk and general cargoes importation.
By Roland Ekama
