Silent on Perishable cargo, likely loses/Additional cost

Ms. Hadiza Bala Usman. MD NPA

The Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, may have discovered that exports from Nigerian sea ports in Lagos are a major cause of the unending traffic gridlock and chaos pervading the ports of Lagos.

In a terse statement released by NPA and signed by Ibrahim Nasiru, Assistant General Manager, AGM,  Corporate and Strategic Communications,  the suspension of export bound cargoes is an identified measure to restore sanity by improving access into and enhancing service delivery in the Apapa and Tin can ports in Lagos.

From the statement, it is clear that prior to the introduction of its traffic call system, Eto, there were neither consultations nor inputs sought from maritime stakeholders and agencies such as the Nigerian Export Promotion Council, NEPC.

The statement reads:  “As part of efforts to improve access into, and service delivery at the Lagos Ports Complex and the Tin Can Island Port, the Authority hereby announces a 14-day (Two weeks) suspension of export receipts at both ports and all satellite truck parks, with effect from Monday, March 22, 2021. This development is necessitated by the need for consultations with export cargo stakeholders, and the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) on the harmonization of procedures required of owners of this category of cargo”.

“Stakeholders should please note that this suspension does not affect export refrigerated cargo and trucks whose operators have secured call up tickets as at Friday March 19, 2021.

“All other segments of port users are enjoined to continue carrying on their businesses by using the designated truck parks and booking for access into the ports on the Eto platform.

What happens to exports which may have been moved to Lagos from the northern, eastern and south south regions within the two weeks suspension period?

Who bears the additional cost arising from the suspension within the period?

Efforts to reach the AGM Corporate communications for additional information/clarification failed as our phone calls/messages were not responded to.