Roland Ekama, Lagos
As part of efforts to find lasting solutions to the perennial gridlock along the Apapa ports corridor, the National Council of Managing Director of Licensed Customs Agents (NCMDLCA),has advised the Presidential Task Team to engage terminal operators and shipping line agencies on the need evacuate and receive cargoes as at when due.
The Lucky Amiwero led council, reiterated that the existing traffic situation can be attributed to the obsolete equipment in possession of the concessionaires, pointing out that shipping companies have failed to provide the needed holding bays for empty containers.
Deputy National President of the licensed customs agents group, Prince Adeniyi Ajayi in a chat with newsmen on Wednesday accused the terminal operators of frustrating efforts so far put in place by the Professor Yemi Osinbajo Task Team to ease traffic from Apapa and its environs.
Adeniyi alleged that most of the terminal operators in Lagos ports are short staffed; a situation he noted has created bottlenecks along the access roads.
According to him, obsolete equipment and dearth of workers contributed to the delay of cargoes entry and exit from the ports.
Citing instances,he alleged that APM.Terminal has obsolete equipment in discharging cargoes from vessels at berth thus creating unnecessary bottlenecks at the entrance gate of the Lagos Ports Complex (LPC).
The council’s top member ,called on the Presidential Task Team,led by Comrade Kayode Opeifa to engage the concessionaires in mapping out strategies on how to improve on the traffic situation in Apapa.
“They have not approached the real problem. Where the problem lies is on thesè terminal operators, if they are operating in their full capacities, receiving empties as at when due then loading will be seamlessly carried out but what I notice is that when you enter into a terminal, they will show you equipment but most of the equipment are obsolete
“They don’t have enough manpower, what they do is when they have their ships at berth, and because the ship pays dollars, they will move their equipment and their few personnel to the ship side and the people who are for examination, delivery export will be left out.
“By the time they do that one for three hours, traffic would have already spill over to Ojuelegba.
“All the terminal operators are not working optimally, they are just doing skeletal works,” he stated.
