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Habib Abdullahi, Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority Customs boss lauds initiatives of LADOL, SIIFZ
The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has called for the establishment of a tripartite committee charged with the responsibility of putting in place framework for the effective utilization of the Ikorodu terminal in Lagos State.
Managing Director of NPA, Habib Abdullahi, who made the call while on a joint inspection of the Terminal with Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Col. Hammed Ali [Rtd], said role of the committee is key to the development of the terminal.
Abdullahi suggested that the committee expected to comprise of NPA, NCS and the Federal Ministry of Transport, should be mandated to interface with other stakeholders to work out modalities for the optimal utilization of terminal.
Speaking in the same vein, Alli emphasized the need for a meeting, preferably a technical committee that will come with proposals or modalities on putting the terminal to optimal use.
He said both Nigeria Customs Service and Nigerian Ports Authority are partners in progress and that the two agencies should work together for the mutual benefits of the country.
Ali directed that Zone A command should look into how the two large warehouses in Ikorodu, described as the largest in Nigeria could be well utilized.
On accessibility to the terminal, in addition to roads, both the Comptroller General and the Managing Director of NPA emphasised the need for the opening of the waterways through dredging so that importers and exporters can patronize the terminal.
The visit to Ikorodu Terminal, form part of the Comptroller General’s tour of Zone A of the Command which comprises Lagos, Oyo, Osun, Ogun, Ondo and Ekiti states.
The Customs boss had during his visit to Free Trade Zones (FTZs) on Monday thanked promoters of the facilities for employing Nigerians, adding that they should do more in the interest of the larger economy.
Speaking during a tour of Lagos Deep Offshore Logistics base (LADOL) and Snake Island Integrated Free Zone (SIIFZ) Ali urged promoters of the facilities to contribute more to the development of the nation especially through job creation.
Alli, who made similar remarks at LADOL and SIIFZ, said: “seeing is believing. I have come and have seen. I’m highly impressed with what I have seen”.
He commended workers of the facilities for their dedication to duties, noting that the Federal Government is interested in any venture that creates jobs for Nigerians.
Addressing workers at SIIFZ, Alli said: “No business can grow without commited workers. Without you (workers) nothing can happen on this island”.
He also used the opportunity to pledge the commitment of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) to investigate alleged ‘dominant monopoly’ in the Nigerian Oil and Gas Logistics supply services.
According to the Customs boss, alleged monopoly in a Free Trade Zone (FTZ) and its legal status is to be investigated and a decision taken at the end of the exercise.
He said: “President Muhamadu Buhari stand for fairness and transparency. The idea of change is to do business in right frame of work. We will go back and look at the law that exists. If we find any stage of injustice, we will address”.
The Chairman of SIIFZ, Anwar Jarmakami had in his speech appealed to the Customs boss to tackle alleged monopoly in the sector.
Jarmakami said: “We are all aware of the dominant monopoly in the Nigerian Oil and Gas Logistics and supply services which has existed for over 20 years, sabotaging the national economy, conspiring and working against any potential competitors, particularly against Snake Island Integrated Free Zone”.
