The Customs Area Controller (CAC) of Lilypond, Alhaji Mustapha Atiku has lamented the darts of cargo coming into the dry dock even as he expresses fear of not being able to meet target.
He said this in a meeting with the stakeholders at the command last week.
The new CAC has been meeting with the APMT management, his colleagues at the Apapa Area Command and various importers, to persuade them to channel cargoes to his command, promising that, with the harmonious working relationship existing between his officers and stakeholders, cargo delivery processes will be fast tracked, adding that promises had been made, but cargoes are yet to flow, making the command apprehensive of meeting its revenue targets.
He said that the dart of cargo to the command would rob the Federal Government of its revenue, wastes customs officers experience and leaves Customs Agents disillusioned, as there are no Cargoes to engage their services.
It is a widely held view that lilypond Terminal is a dry port that enjoys the status of a customs area command, and therefore requires cargoes or vessels stemmed to the command regularly, in order for the Federal Government to realize collectable revenues, for the development and welfare of Nigerians.
The reasons why lilypond is being periodically starved of cargoes may not be unconnected to the disposition of the parent organization, AP Moller Terminal.
In his response, the Commercial Manager of the terminal, Mr. Kayode Daniel explained that the dart of cargo was due to the fact that most cargoes come from China and that China is on one month holiday hence the drop in cargo throughput into Nigeria.
He however promised to continue negotiating with his top management, to ensure that cargoes are allocated, as a matter of priority, to the command.
