By Shola Fadeyi
… Assures on Smooth Operations at Lagos Ports
…. as Customs Brokers Express Fears on Goods Delivery to Owners’ Warehouses
By Shola Fadeyi
The Nigerian Ports Authority(NPA ) has justified the rationale behind ensuring that the Lagos seaports remain open , for the next two weeks , starting from today , when the curfew imposed on Lagos State,by the Federal Government, to curb the spread of the Coronavirus , otherwise known as COVID-19 Pandemic, will last.
This is even as it has assured stakeholders that it has made adequate arrangements to ensure that operations continue at the seaports unhindered, for the period of the curview .
It will be recalled that , President Muhammadu Buhari in his speech to Nigerians on Sunday , directed that the seaports in Lagos, Apapa and Tin Can should remain open and fully operational, in spite of the curfew.
He however said that vehicles and drivers conveying essential cargoes from these Ports to other parts of the country should be screened thoroughly, before departure by the Ports Health Authority.
In justifying why the Ports should remain open , the General Manager Corporate & Strategic Communications of the NPA, Mr Adams Jatto told Marineand economy in his response to some questions in that direction, in a telephone chat ,that the need to ensure that the economy is not shut down, dictated that the Ports should remain open.
Beyond this , he said because NPA through the Ports ,are responsible for the import and export of goods into and out of the country , it is ensure that refined petroleum products and the protective medical materials to combat the spread of COVID19 are available during this period.
According to him, it has been established that Covid-19 mode of transmission is through human to human contact ,and as such opening of the Ports during this period is of no negative effect, because the volume of persons into the ports can be controlled unlike the airports.
He explained that to the best of his knowledge, no port in the world has been closed even in red flag countries since the advent of covid-19, while even as the Ports are opened, crew members are not allowed to disembark from the vessels on arrival at the ports, and as such they have minimal contact with people.
Jatto said ports mainly handle cargoes fully automated with minimal human traffic and streamlined clearing processes have been put in place and so, there is no harm having the Ports operating during this period.
Jatto
He however stated that some safety measures have been adopted , by the NPA, and that they include the locked down of corporate headquarters for two weeks to reduce the number of staff coming to work at the ports , while only those on essential services would be at work.
Jatto said those to be allowed into the port during this period are expected to show evidence of being on essential assignment such as clearing of cargoes.
He disclosed that they must also observe Social distancing of 1metre while clustering of people and group meetings will be strictly prohibited within the ports.
According to him, all persons entering the ports or operating within the ports must maintain strict personal hygiene and the necessary precautions such as hand washing with soap ,use of sanitizer and use of PPE.as stipulated by the World Health Organisation(WHO).
He said the security operatives are fully aware of the presidential directives to keep the port open as such delivery of goods in and out of the ports will go on unhindered adding that the agents need not entertain fair in carrying out their legal businesses.
The NPA had also said in a statement that the step it is taking is to ensure the smooth implementation of the directive of President Muhammadu Buhari , it pointed out that safety procedures, which will guarantee the well-being and security of stakeholders and staff have been put in place , while all are advised to kindly comply with the instructions of the port officials.
The Authority also appealed to all other government agencies responsible for smooth operations in the ports, to be at their respective duty posts, to discharge their functions, in line with the presidential directive of maintaining operational functions at the Lagos ports.
It assured in the statement signed on its behalf by Jatto that the Authority is committed to facilitation of trade in Nigeria.
Meanwhile,despite Jatto’s assurances , Licensed Customs agents have expressed worries on the confusion posed by the opening of the Ports , the opportunity for them to take delivery of goods, and the issue of how to get such cargoes down to the various warehouses and other destinations, in view of the curfew that has been imposed.
But the National President of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) ,Honorable Tony Iju Nwabunike said that, since it is a Presidential directive that the Ports should be operational , any licensed customs agents who takes delivery of goods should be able to move freely , with necessary proofs to deliver them at the necessary places.
Beyond this, Nwabunike stated that he has discussed with the Maritime commissioner of Police to ensure that those customs brokers who will clear their goods from the Ports during the period of the curview, are able to move freely on the roads without being molested by the Police.
He however said that adequate arrangements must have to be made between the importers and the customs brokers ,to ensure that goods can be delivered , adding that , in a situation where such will not work out , then it is better to wait till after the curfew, before such goods can be cleared , so that they would be delivered appropriately.
For instance , the Managing Director of Surview Nigeria Limted, Mr Don Graham wondered in a chat with the Marine and economy, how the goods cleared from the Ports would be deposited at the owners warehouses ,when there is a curfew in place.
Meanwhile, Licensed Customs agents have expressed worries on the confusion posed by the opening of the Ports , the opportunity for them to take delivery of goods and the issue of how to get such cargoes down to the various warehouses and other destinations, in view of the curfew that has been imposed.
But the National President of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) ,Honorable Tony Iju Nwabunike said that, since it is a Presidential directive that the Ports should be operational , any licensed customs agents who takes delivery of goods should be able to move freely , with necessary proofs to deliver them at the necessary places.
Hon. Nwabunike, ANLCA President
Beyond this, Nwabunike stated that he has discussed with the Maritime commissioner of Police to ensure that those customs brokers who will clear their goods from the Ports during the period of the curview, are able to move freely on the roads without being molested by the Police.
He however said that adequate arrangements must have to be made between the importers and the customs brokers ,to ensure that goods can be delivered , adding that , in a situation where such will not work out , then it is better to wait till after the curfew, before such goods can be cleared , so that they would be delivered appropriately.
Graham. MD, Surview Nig Ltd.
For instance an expert, Mr Don Graham, who is a licensed customs agent, and the the Managing Director of Surview Nigeria Limted, wondered in a chat with the Marine and economy, how the goods cleared from the Ports would be deposited at the owners warehouses ,when there is a curfew in place, which could make it impossible for such importers to take delivery.
