The Port Standing Task Team (PSTT) has rolled out new rules to guide the involvement of government agencies in the inspection of cargoes at the ports.
PSTT is a creation of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Department of State Security (DSS) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC). The team is charged with the responsibility of ensuring that standard procedures are followed by concerned parties in carrying out transactions at the port.
A copy of a memo containing the new rules titled “Joint Examination of Cargo” was sighted by SHIPS & PORTS. The memo stated that containers must be positioned for examination by 8.30 a.m. while representatives of government agencies must jointly perform inspection from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. daily.
“Every authorized agency shall designate sufficient officers to simultaneously cover all examination groups at each examination bay.
“Failure of any agency representative other than that of the Nigeria Customs Service to attend joint examination shall not delay the examination and such an agency shall lose the right to examine that container,” the memo stated.