Irrespective of the fact that the AP Moller Terminals (APMT) stems containers to the Lillypond terminal in Lagos, the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) has appealed to importers bringing consignment to Nigeria to ship their cargo directly to the Lillypond terminal for onwards clearance and delivery to the owners’ warehouse.
The Chairman of ANLCA Lillypond Chapter, Mr. Olufemi Abiodun Olabanji who made this plea while speaking in an interview with newsmen in Lagos stated that the Lillypond terminal has what he called Two Bill Lading (TBL) which allows the terminal to receive shipment from the port of origin calling on importers to make adequate use of the terminal.
Olabanji stated that the TBL which according to is a license which the Lillypond terminal had acquired over a period now which allowed it to receive consignment direct from the port of origin had been without the knowledge of many importers adding that he was going to make effort through the media to sensitize the public about the existence of such license so as to enable importers utilize it.
According to him,” Like you know, in Lillypond, we have TBL that is Two Bill Lading that is when you ship your goods from destination, you destined it to Lillypond terminal. There is a way you do it. So, right now, I will put it in paper, people will know about it so that our container will come”.
“I believe with the system of what we have in Lillypond right now, if you have a consignment in abroad to ship to Nigeria, there is a way you do it, destined to Lillypond, so when it comes to anywhere, they will take it to Lillypond. That is what we are trying to get over now so that when we do it, people will know”.
He however said that the only challenge agents have at the Lillypond terminal was that right now, there were no containers in Lillypond adding that he was at the APMT recently in respect of containers which the Managing Director of the terminal promised him that APMT would soon stem containers to the terminal.
“You see, what happened now is that there is no business in Lillypond right now but I believe by the grace of God and with the support of people container must come to Lillypond. With me and with the support of the Controller and the terminal operator, we are going to work together not myself doing it alone”.
“You see, for a long time now, they (APMT) have been promising. With the Support of the Controller, you know when Alhaja Talatu was there, she goes to APMT always with the past Chairman, so my coming in now, I have to do the same thing and I believe God will speak to their minds. Yes! There must be containers in Lillypond”.
“You know Lillypond is a full fledged command, so with all these, we are hoping to have a new CG (Comptroller General of Customs) like I believe, so these are the things that we are going to work together. You know the CG has the power to say, “Bring container to Lillypond”, he said.
When asked if there was any other alternative to hoping to get consignment from APMT, he had this to say,” the only alternative we are looking at is if you have consignment abroad and you want to bring it to Nigeria, you can destined it to Lillypond straight from that port of loading down to Lillypond, you can do that”.
