By Kenneth Jukpor
Freight agents operating at the Kirikiri Lighter Terminal (KLT) have shutdown Phase 2 of the terminal operated by Joatelim Logistics Limited over their gross negligence which led to the death of a licensed Customs agent, Mr Kennedy Ikechukwu, yesterday.
The terminal facility was shutdown by the KLT Chapter of Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) as the association’s Chapter Chairman, Comrade Goddy Sewa Soleji revealed that the 46-year old victim died trying to get his container positioned for examination.
Angry clearing agents had stormed the port on Wednesday morning and shutdown the administrative office of the terminal operator, while the terminal had been shut on Tuesday evening.
Comrade Soleji, while calming frayed tempers of the agents, instructed that the administrative office of the terminal operator should be opened pending negotiations between family of the deceased and the terminal operators.
Findings, however, reveal that the terminal is scheduled to remain shut until Thursday due to the fact that the deceased family and the Terminal are yet to conclude their negotiations.
Meanwhile, a condolence register has since been opened at the association secretariat for stakeholders.
According to Comrade Soleji, the port is supposed to work on 24hours basis, hence, reopening the terminal depends solely on the terminal operators actions.
After holding meetings with the terminal operators, on Wednesday morning, Comrade Soleji said ANLCA is insisting that the terminal operator should correct its operational lapses, which includes lack of adequate equipment and good working environment for customers.
His words: “The challenges agents are facing at the Joatelim Terminal has been reported to Nigerian Shippers Council, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) Nigeria Customs Service, Nigerian Police on several occasions but still, there was no deliberate action taken.”
He stressed that the same challenge of lack of equipment and poor working environment is being faced at all terminals under the KLT Port due to lack of government regulation.
“What happened yesterday was uncalled for, because it is something that we have been complaining about. What happened is that due to poor handling, the crane hit the victim, and stepped on him to the extent that, from the chest down, his intestines bursted out, it was ugly. It was a terrible incident”
“On several occasions, we have written to the management of Joatelim Logistics Limited to improve on their operations, in terms of pavement of the terminal floors, to aquire more plants (cargo handling equipment) for efficient service delivery for importers and agents, and also to improve their manpower. The issue of booking of containers for examination, agents are not supposed to go into the terminal to position containers or pursue the plants that would handle the container”
“That’s an analogue way of working that we should have dumped two decades ago when NPA was in charge of the ports. In other terminals, agents do not have to position containers”
The remains of the dead clearing agent has been deposited at the Naval hospital at Boundary, Ajegunle. He was confirmed dead on arrival, and a death certificate has been issued to the family.
Kennedy Ikechukwu, popularly known as Skiibo was a 46-year old bachelor from Owerri, Imo State.
