Director-General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Dr Dakuku Peterside (left) and Hajia Lami Tumaka during familiarisation tour of the Western Zone of the agency in Lagos.
CUSTOMS agents have set agenda for the boards of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and the Nigerian Maritime Administartion and Safety Agency (NIMASA): they should revamp the sector to increase revenue generation.
The Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) urged the boards to find a lasting solution to the dilapidated Oshodi-Apapa Expressway in Lagos; ensure security at the ports and hasten cargo clearance.
According to ANCLA President Olayiwola Shittu, the boards and other agencies have the responsibility to make Nigeria ports hubs in the sub-region.
He told The Nation that the board chairmen should prevail on the government to use part of the money generated from the ports monthly to fix the roads leading to the Apapa and Tin-Can Island ports.
Mr Emmanuel Adesoye (NPA) and Maj-Gen. Jonathan Garba (NIMASA) alleged that the government had not done enough to provide basic infrastructure and tackle corruption at the ports. He urged the boards to devise strategies for increasing the tempo of activities at the ports.
The ANLCA chief decried the deplorable state of the Lagos and Onne port roads, saying it was affecting cargo delivery, endangering workers’ lives and making things difficult for the people.
Shittu urged the boards to seek explanation on what the money realised from the ports is being used for.
“Is it good to read on the pages of newspapers that despite the recession, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) generates over N50 billion monthly from the Lagos ports without any corresponding development of the roads that lead to the ports?” he queried.
“Even the figure available to us showed that NPA, NIMASA, Customs, Nigeria Shippers Council (NSC), the Standards Organisation of Nieria (SON) and other agencies are generating several billions of naira monthly and we are sure that about 80 per cent of the amount is generated in Lagos. Why is the government finding it difficult to develop port infrastructure and make the ports attractive for business and generate more money?” he asked.
He said: “Telling the Federal Government alone, this time around, will not be enough. It is time to hold agencies that base their existence on the ports responsible and ask for their interventions to put pressure on the government to intervene, to save the lives of Nigerians suffering and dying on these roads every day.
“Other operational challenges in the ports were discussed and we resolved that they should be aggregated in writing, for appropriate action, especially against some shipping companies, through their home countries.”
CUSTOMS agents have set agenda for the boards of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and the Nigerian Maritime Administartion and Safety Agency (NIMASA): they should revamp the sector to increase revenue generation.
The Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) urged the boards to find a lasting solution to the dilapidated Oshodi-Apapa Expressway in Lagos; ensure security at the ports and hasten cargo clearance.
According to ANCLA President Olayiwola Shittu, the boards and other agencies have the responsibility to make Nigeria ports hubs in the sub-region.
He told The Nation that the board chairmen should prevail on the government to use part of the money generated from the ports monthly to fix the roads leading to the Apapa and Tin-Can Island ports.
Mr Emmanuel Adesoye (NPA) and Maj-Gen. Jonathan Garba (NIMASA) alleged that the government had not done enough to provide basic infrastructure and tackle corruption at the ports. He urged the boards to devise strategies for increasing the tempo of activities at the ports.
The ANLCA chief decried the deplorable state of the Lagos and Onne port roads, saying it was affecting cargo delivery, endangering workers’ lives and making things difficult for the people.
Shittu urged the boards to seek explanation on what the money realised from the ports is being used for.
“Is it good to read on the pages of newspapers that despite the recession, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) generates over N50 billion monthly from the Lagos ports without any corresponding development of the roads that lead to the ports?” he queried.
“Even the figure available to us showed that NPA, NIMASA, Customs, Nigeria Shippers Council (NSC), the Standards Organisation of Nieria (SON) and other agencies are generating several billions of naira monthly and we are sure that about 80 per cent of the amount is generated in Lagos. Why is the government finding it difficult to develop port infrastructure and make the ports attractive for business and generate more money?” he asked.
He said: “Telling the Federal Government alone, this time around, will not be enough. It is time to hold agencies that base their existence on the ports responsible and ask for their interventions to put pressure on the government to intervene, to save the lives of Nigerians suffering and dying on these roads every day.
“Other operational challenges in the ports were discussed and we resolved that they should be aggregated in writing, for appropriate action, especially against some shipping companies, through their home countries.”
Comments