The Comptroller-General of Customs, Hameed Ali, has directed that the Ikorodu Lighter Terminal be removed from the list of Area Commands of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS).
Ali said this becomes imperative considering the drastic drop in the volume of cargo currently being handled at the terminal, which has led to the underutilization of manpower.
According to a circular dated August 23rd 2018, a copy of which was sighted by SHIPS & PORTS DAILY, and signed by Assistant Comptroller General (Headquarters), Azerema Abdukadir, the terminal will henceforth be maintained as a government warehouse under the supervision of the Zonal Coordinator, Zone A, Lagos.
The circular reads, “It is recalled that the concessioning of the seaport by the Federal Government in year 2006 had led to the demolition of government warehouses to create more space for remodelling the port by the concessionaires in line with the international standards.
“The dearth of warehousing space therefore led to the designation of the Ikorodu Lighter Terminal by the government as a depot for overtime and other problem goods. This witnessed the transfer of high volume of cargo there and then necessitated the running of the place as an Area Command by the NCS.
“However, considering the drastic drop in the volume of cargo being deposited there now, which has created the underutilization of manpower, management has reviewed the situation and found out that it is no longer cost effective to continue to run the place as an Area Command.
“It is therefore directed that the terminal be maintained as a government warehouse only and its administration/operations be placed under the supervision of the zonal office, with immediate effect.
“In view of the above, the Zonal Coordinator is directed to select the appropriate number of officers and men to man the government warehouse from the list of those currently serving there, appoint an Assistant Comptroller as the head and direct the day to day affairs of the government warehouse.”