Chief Commercial Officer of APM Terminals Apapa Limited, Mr. Neil Fletcher, who disclosed this in Lagos weekend, said that the offer became necessary as part of efforts aimed at decongesting the port.
APM Terminals Apapa had in 2008 and 2011 waived a combined total of more than N2.5 billion storage charges for longstanding containers at its facility.
Fletcher said the measure was in a bid to support the government in its effort to reduce clearance time and congestion at the seaports. He said 724 overtime containers sitting at the terminal will enjoy the 50 per cent storage charge waiver.
He urged importers and agents to take prompt delivery of their containers in order to avoid incurring high storage charges.
“If cargo is released and delivered fast, then no storage penalty will apply but if, on the other hand, cargo is left in the port for many weeks or months, then high storage penalty will apply because the port is not for storage,” Fletcher said.
The storage charge waiver on longstanding containers, according to him, “is aimed at making sure that importers and their agents take quick delivery of their boxes so that we can free up space in the terminal.”
Meanwhile, as its new temporary physical examination site became operational last week, APM Terminals Apapa has added more value to clearing agents and Customs operatives as it introduced free bus shuttle from its gate to the new examination site.
Fletcher said that work on the old physical examination site will begin immediately.
“We are introducing a revolutionary multi-level physical examination facility which is costing us USD10 million. This facility will become operational in the second quarter of next year as part of our third phase expansion plan,” he said.
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