… Says terminal operators now cooperate with task team
… Blames consignees, agents for infractions in cargo clearing
… Calls for re-introduction of Cargo Tracking Note
The National Coordinator of the Nigerian Ports Process Manual (NPPM), Mr. Moses Fadipe has said that the total number of containers being examined at the AP Moller Terminal (APMT) has risen from between one hundred and ten (110) containers and one hundred and twenty (120) containers per day to two hundred (200) containers per day since the team resumed work at the terminal in November 1, 2021.
Fadipe who disclosed this while addressing the media on the sideline of the meeting organized by Maritime Anti-Corruption Network (MACN) and the Convention on Business Integrity (CBI) with the leadership of Integrity Alliance in Lagos yesterday described the development as a good one which should be encouraged.
He noted that the team commenced cargo examination on the 1st of November while recalling that it started operation in March this year but concentrated on the vessel side from that March up till today in all the ports of the federation.
According to him, “We are moving to the cargo side and almighty terminals that we were mentioning, none of them stop us anymore because we have shown them our character and we have shown them the stuff we are made of. Even the APMT that we were mentioning, wisdom prevailed so that when they see the task team coming, they open their gates widely because they have seen and realized that we are even helping them. And the joint examination that they were doing was not going on according to the manual but right now, we have aligned them to the manual.
“As we speak, in APMT, ENL, Eco Support, things are now done right because we cannot enter APMT terminal for examination without registering our presence; who are you? Which agency? How many of you? Which unit of the customs? What time are you in? And what time are you coming out? It has come up to that stage now and we have got to another stage that activities commence 9 o’clock and it must end 4 o’clock. By 8.30 in the morning, whatever boxes that are positioned, is what you will examine for the day. Terminals have known that too.
“But what we discovered is that before we came in November 1st, they were positioning an average of about 110, 120 containers for examination everyday but now we have crossed 200 mark every day at APMT. That is a good development. Then, at the ENL, we discovered that they don’t even know that act of examination, they even examine along the quayside showing that they don’t have an examination bay. But we are talking to their management to let them know that they are doing it but they must have a small place that will serve as their examination bay.
“And in Eco Support, we have replicated the same. So, we are trying but one appeal that I will give to this house is that the users of this service need your support, the consignees, the agents, you see them coming majestically around 1 o’clock in the afternoon while the government officials have been already there since 9 o’clock and we keep appealing to them and all the time too, they are culpable in all the infractions we have identified. And as I am speaking with you, some investigations are going on because even today as I told you, we have people in our custody as I speak with you who are still talking to us on those things we have seen and we are going to get to the root of that matter. God being on our side, we will get there and with your support, I think the sky is the limit.”
Speaking on what role the task team would play in containing the rising incidences of drug importation into the country, he said, “NPPM is quite working very closely with the NDLEA in Apapa port. You know, in this clime, we are quick to make statement when such thing occur but on the second one that was seized on a Sunday, that is 13.6 kilogram, you might see that it was only announced, some people have been picked up but you are not hearing anything anymore. You must get to a point before you make statement.
“The vessel comes from an origin, even from that origin, who are the owners of this vessel? We are only concerned about the Nigerian side but we are not talking about the other side, those are where things are going on. At the appropriate time, statement will be made in that direction is what I can assure you. But we are working closely with all of them and the government too, the practitioners, I will still implore them to let government know that this Advanced Cargo Tracking Note is a tool that we need in this country. After 9/11, a lot of countries have adopted it all over the world. Even the West African neighbouring countries are using Cargo Tracking Note, why not Nigeria? Because these are things that will help us know things as they are coming from origin and it makes the carriers liable. The present arrangement that we have now does not make the carrier liable, said to contain but the cargo tracking note will make you liable of what you have taken from origin and when you get there and we discover anything, you are going to be liable. So, there is need for us to push for this cargo tracking Note. With that, government will have it good.”
Photo: Mr. Moses Fadipe, National Coordinator, Nigerian Ports Process Manual and Head, Special Duties, Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) addressing the media yesterday in Lagos.
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