By Uzor Odigbo
The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) may have deployed a team for the purpose of scrutinizing the terminals, so as to confirm the veracity of stakeholders’ assertions that their goods were regularly damaged with no compensation paid.
The new NPA Port Manager, Lagos Ports Complex, Mrs. Olufunmilayo Olotu indicated this while reacting to the allegation bordering on the issue of terminal efficiency, particularly from the point of efficiency of cargo handling at the terminals at the premier port.
“Nigerian Ports Authority will always insist on best practices as port operations is a global phenomenon”, Mrs. Olufunmilayo Olotu stated, reiterating the NPA’s Executive Management position and commitment to excellent service delivery.
She stressed that comfort will always be offered to ships, crew, cargo and the business class.
“We will keep monitoring terminals and we shall not encourage any disposition that will tarnish the image of the Nigerian ports, especially in cargo handling.
“This is because, if a shipper is not sure that his goods will be safe and secure in your port, then, they will never patronize you. We cannot afford to send out negative signals”, the Apapa Port Manager stated.
She assured that management would leave no stone un-turned to ensure that every awkward situation is redressed, especially from every terminal that may probably be lagging behind.
In spite of the assurances, which include redressing the alleged ugly situation, importers and their agents were neither amused nor pacified as some of them openly begged that more space must be created for the terminal operators in addition to acquisition of more handling plants, as being the major options capable of saving them time and ensuring that their goods remain protected from constant damage.
Harping on this, an agent whose main area of operation is bulk cargo spoke anonymously to NOMMA lamenting that when most of the terminal operators began operations, standard was very high until patronage surged, perhaps, beyond available space.
He said: “For ENL for instance, I will tell you without mincing words that they have fallen below expectation. This is happening because they have that notion that importers do not have a second option being the only bulk cargo receiver in Apapa and being in charge of the largest terminal.
“So, no matter how they treat you, you must come back. If not, I do not see how a terminal like that which receives the highest number of break bulks in the country does not have machines- folk lift and other machineries.
“Year in year out, it might interest you to know that ENL still uses forklifts that they got from NPA as at the time of the concession. And these machines break down at intervals. As we speak now, after you pay so much as terminal handling charges, you go into the port and see where they merge four ‘receivers’ to one folk lift!
“It will then take you months to get your goods because sometimes, each receiver has like 400 or 500 trailers to load and if they merge you with another receiver that has like cargo for 200 trailers; you can then work out the average per day. On the average, it could be two trucks per receiver a day! And on this one month, they are receiving terminal charges, demurrage, rent even though you are not the cause of the delay!
“As for (cargo) damage, do not go there! Because it is heartbreaking when you go to ENL and see what they do to people’s cargo because they feel we do not have a second option.
“Take a trip there; you will see the marks of the tyres of forklifts on people’s cargoes. Sometimes, it is like a forklift operator purposely climbs a cargo! There are often, cargoes scattered.”
