TDO RACKETEERING: NPA Raises Concerns Over Truckers Gimmick Of Avoiding Entry Of Exports Laden Cargoes To Seaports

Worried about the slow movement of cargoes inward the ports, the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has raised concerns over transporters new gimmick of avoiding entry of container laden exports into the seaports,over issues bothering on  Terminal Delivery Order also known as TDO .

Terminal Delivery Order is a document or pre-gate ticket that identifies the agents or consignee as the original owner of the cargo but is presented by the truck driver or transporter to the terminal operators’ in order to gain entry into the facilities.

The NPA Port Manager, Lagos Ports Complex (LPC) , Mrs Olufunmilayo Olotu, who disclosed this at a programme tagged “Distinguished Maritime Personalities” DMP on Tuesday , accused  transporters and truckers of creating undue bottleneck and  delay of export laden containers along the corridors into the ports in furtherance to source for TDO before accessing the terminals to drop the cargoes.

The Port Manager who frowned at the development , stated that”It is the current trend by transporters”, which in turn militates against trade facilitation.

Olotu who represented the Managing Director NPA,  Mohammed Koko Bello at the event  lamented that “As at this morning we are having complaints about export laden trucks refusing to come into the ports.

“Now ask me why?, It is because they are looking for TDO so that after surviving the hurdles of coming into the port they don’t just want to drop the export and go out empty rather they source for TDO along the port corridors before entry at the port to lift imported containers on their way out and at the end of the day they will complain that the exports have perished due to traffic along the corridors and these are some of the challenges before us”.

She stated that most of Nigeria exporters are not accepted in Europe and other parts of a world because the international communities have tagged Nigeria as a country of deficiency.

The PM affirmed that most Nigeria exports are rerouted to Ghana for onward delivery to Europe because of the deficiency syndrome and has equally affected the brand image of Nigeria cargoes overseas.

She however called for a concerted effort by stakeholders and the businessmen to synergize in ensuring that the deficiency syndrome as stipulated by the international communities is transformed to proficiency to break the barriers associated to international trade.

Olotu further explained that cargo importation are driven by local industries of every country , pointing out standards must not be compromised.

On the issue of the road network , she noted that the port corridors are not under the purview of the NPA which according to her,  belong to the federal and state government respectively, affirming that the road network linking the ports should be of concern to every stakeholders within the logistics chain supply sector.

Apparently dissatisfied with the insecurity along the corridors, she added that area boys have taken over the port corridors  saying that the hoodlums attack both passengers and cargo laden trucks along the roads over failure to pay a token .