APM Terminals, Port concessionaire and terminal operator at Apapa Container Terminal have been accused of causing delays in cargo clearance.
According to the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), the terminal operators were frustrating government’s Ease of Doing Business policy.
Speaking separately during an assessment visit by Customs Headquarters Public Relations Unit to the command, also other stakeholders accused the port operator of delayed positioning of containers for examination and late opening of access gate into the examination area.
Customs Area Controller of the command, Musa Jibrin, blamed the company for working with only one forklift at the examination area where about 200 containers are to be examined daily.
The Controller, who expressed shock over a recent media report blaming customs for slowing pace of cargo clearance, also added that the company does not have adequate manpower on the ground to prosecute the volume of job in the terminal.
He said his command is ready to effect prompt release of cargo within 4 hours if all documentation were perfected within the traders zone.
During the assessment visit, the terminal which was locked as at 10am when examination was supposed to begin, had over 30 customs officers locked outside and was opened by 10:25am when containers were still being positioned.
Rufai Alao, a Deputy Comptroller in charge of the terminal said delays in opening was a usual character of the terminal operator.
Alao added that despite gaining entrance into the terminal, customs officers are forced to wait for other operatives of government agencies who were yet to arrive for joint examination.
He also blamed the company for not providing shuttle vehicles to convey Customs officers from the gate of the port to the scanner site where they are not allowed to drive through.
He also accused the company of not providing a canopy or make shift shelters for prevention of rains and sun heat.
According to him, several letters written by the customs to the company to address issues affecting smooth port operations at the terminal were unattended to.