KLT Customs boss, Bomodi, calls for Capacity utilisation by shippers

KLT Customs boss, Bomodi, calls for Capacity utilisation by shippers

By Uzor Odigbo

Kirikiri Lighter Terminal  (KLT) Customs command boss, Comptroller Timi Bomodi has beckoned on shipping firms to utilise its large space capacity for Shipment.

Speaking during a chat on Tuesday, the Comptroller Bomodi said, the command has potential to increase its revenue if only shipping firms and other haulage companies would begin to utilise the large space and warehouses in it’s facility.

He regretted that the terminal is currently functioning at less than 10% capacity.

“Kirikiri terminal has the capacity to handle 6,000 TEUs. We have phases one to four and other bonded warehouses and all these terminals are functioning at less than 10% capacity.

“We have the space, we have the capacity but we don’t have the containers to make effective use of this space”.

Comptroller Bomodi also said that the terminal had a space that is equivalent to the big commands like Apapa and Tincan but that its being under utilised.

“Fortunately, we have a good collaboration with NPA in terms of improving on existing infrastructure, and currently, NPA has done a remarkable work revamping phase 2

“We asked that it be done because we can’t be talking about attracting shipment to the command if the infrastructure is bad. So, they have improved on the terrain, they have done a lot of work and we applaud them for that,” he maintained

On revenue drive, he said the command generated sum of N7.8 billion in the month of July, 2023.

The huge sum is a leap from the N3.5 to N3.6 billion the command used to generate in six months.

“As for revenue collection, like I said, we are operating at less than ten percent so between January and June, we have been doing an average of N3.5 to 3.6 billion but remarkably, in July, for the first time in the history of the command, we were able to make N7.8 billion

“Not because necessarily, there was an increase in output, we tightened our revenue collection mechanism, we made our business processes more efficient.

“In a way, the exchange rate impacted on that too. We are beginning to see an uplift in our collection which is remarkable and we believe that going forward, that will be our new reality.”

“What it means is that between January and June, on the average, we were collecting between N3.5 to N3.6 billion. That means we were performing at less than ten percent but if we are functioning at maximum capacity, which means we will be doing like N30 billion monthly