By Uzor Odigbo
The Association of Registered Freight Forwarders in Nigeria (AREFFN), has threatened to petition the Nigeria Customs Service, Nigerian Shippers’ Council and Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) for alleged irregularities surrounding the establishment of Hanover Terminal.
The terminal which is situated at the heart of Tin Can Island Port in Lagos has come under criticism by stakeholders, following its modus operandi.
While it was alleged by members of the freight forwarding association that the terminal lacks standard and adequate working apparatus, others queried the operational license that gave birth to it.
Chairman, AREFFN, Tin Can Island Chapter, Comrade Darrick Ige alleged that the terminal has only a single crane to lift containers which in turn disqualified it to be a licensed terminal operator or bonded terminal facility.
Ige lamented that the facility also lacks capacity to handle at least 30 boxes in a day, which in turn negates trade facilitation.
According to him, the floor of the terminal has been in sandy condition since its existence, adding that the government agencies should investigate, inspect and monitor it’s activities.
He noted that the Nigeria Customs Service is responsible forthe issuance of licenses to such facility, especially as bonded terminals, but expressed shock on the existence of Hanover Terminal which allegedly failed to meet the necessary requirements.
He also called on the Nigerian Ports Authority NPA and Nigerian Shippers’ Council to respectively to carry out thorough investigation about the terminal’s equipment, adding that as port regulators,there is need to sanction errant operators.
Ige stated: This terminal operator has only one tarmac and once that equipment collapses there will be lots of inconveniences leading to a halt in trade facilitation.
“It is common with Hanover Terminal because of the lack of equipment and we cannot continue like that. That is why we need to petition the government.”
He noted that the terminal is exposed to security risk within the port environment, hence the need for government to investigate and inspect its operations.
While reacting on the recent pilfering of containers at the terminal, the AREFFN Tin Can Island Port Chairman, noted that insecurity led to cargo vandalization adding that the location of the terminal remains a major security risk.
