NPA Managing Director says Lagos Port complex remains open for business

The Management of Nigerian Ports Authority has assured all stakeholders that the blockage mounted at the complex by licensed customs agents in protest of contentious issues at the APM Terminals has been removed and normal port business has resumed.

This assurance was made yesterday by the Managing Director Nigerian Ports Authority, Malam Habib Abdullahi, represented by the Executive Director Marine and Operations of the Authority Engr David Omonibeke after successfully holding and resolving the issues in consultations with customs, licensed clearing agents, security agents and the concerned terminal operator.

Omonibeke subsequently encouraged all stakeholders with legitimate business at the port to do so without fear as adequate security has been made to guarantee safety of lives and cargo while the authority will continue with further consultations to resolve the outstanding issues between the agents and the terminal operator.

In a similar vein, the customs command has reiterated its commitment to work 24 hours to avoid any congestion while the management of the APMT has reached an agreement on most of the contentious issues which include the extension of booking hours for container scanning and physical examination from 8am to 12noon daily and also the accrued storage charges for the period of strike would be waived.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Ports Authority has inaugurated a task force to ensure a free flow of traffic and eradicate congestion and any gridlock at  Apapa and its environ.

The committee which was inaugurated by the General Manger security Lt Col Jamil Tahir (rtd) on behalf of the Managing Director Nigerian Ports Authority Malam Habib Abdullahi has the General Manger security as Chairman while   membership is  drawn from the Nigerian Navy, Port Police,Federal Road safety commission FRSC, NARTO, Marine and Operations Division of Nigerian Ports Authority.