Holding Bay Conundrum: NPA, Shippers’ Council Lack Political Will

The vice-chairman, Dry Cargo Unit of Nigeria association of road transport owner (NARTO) Lagos State branch, Alhaji AAbdullahi Mohammed Inuwa has said that the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and Nigeria Shippers’ Council (NSC) lack political will and power to control shipping companies and terminal operators on the issue of provision of holding bays for receiving empty containers.

The Trucking boss lamented that despite several sanction and series of directives given by the government, the shipping companies and terminal operators have been non-compliant.

“It was agreed after several stakeholder meetings that only shipping companies is mandated to bring empty containers from the holding bay into the ports as against cargo owners and agents who are presently returning empty containers directly to the ports. Both NPA and NSC cannot be exempted from blame on the current situation at the port for their failure to ensure that shipping companies and terminal operators provide holding bays. It appears the shipping companies and terminal operators have no regard for the law of the Federal Government of Nigeria. They must be made to act in accordance with the law” he said.

Noting that the issue of empty containers should be taken with great concern, NARTO executive who made this declaration in a chat with our correspondence also recalled that four shipping companies including Maersk Line and Cosco were sanctioned by the government, yet the companies still refuse to put their holding bays in place after the review of the initial 10 days suspension.

He beckoned on the government to stop tolerating them and take severe actions such as withdrawing their licenses.

“The review of 10 days suspension by NPA has not yielded fruitful result as shipping companies are still proving stubborn and sounded as if they are above the law. The visit of the vice-president, Yemi Osibanjo has exposed shoddy deals of shipping companies. For example, Fano Bonded Terminal which was engaged by Maersk Line shipping company to receive empty container was forced opened based on the directive of the vice-president in order to clear articulated trucks and tankers from the road. Before the Vice President visited the Fano Bonded Terminal for Maersk Line to receive their empty containers or serve as their empty container holding bay was close down against 100 trucks which were loitering along Oshodi/Expressway, up to the serving lane thereby causing heavy traffic gridlock.

“By the time the security operatives which were led by the Deputy Commissioners of Police in-charge of operation, Lagos State Police Command, on instruction forcefully opened the Fano Bonded Terminal. It was discovered that there was a large space which can accommodate about 3,000 empty containers. It was surprising to know during the exercise that about 300trucks were evacuated from the road and were packed inside the Fano Bounded Terminal” he said.

He added that the delay by Maersk Line was done as a way of tactics to frustrate truckers, clearing agents and consignees in order to extort money by way of collecting demurrage for not returning the empty containers within the grace period.

However, he reserved commendation for Sifax shipping and Grimaldi shipping companies for making good effort in providing holding bays for the trucks.