ANLCA condemns NPA’s manual call up system

Tayo Oladipupo |

The Chairman, Tin Can 2 chapter of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Olabanji Olufemi has condemned the manual call up system of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), stating that the system has caused more chaos instead of the problem it was intended to solve.

The ANLCA chieftain also alleged that security personnel of the NPA in connivance with other security agencies in charge of traffic control have caught on the occasion to extort truckers and freight forwarders on the highways leading to the seaports in Lagos.

He however called on the Managing Director of the NPA to withdraw security personnel from the roads leading to the ports.

Olabanji said this in a chat with our correspondent on Monday in Lagos, adding that NPA had all what it took to address the gridlock and congestion on the roads leading to the ports but alleged officials of agency have contributed to the delay of receiving empty containers.

The Tin Can 2 ANLCA Branch chairman who also doubles as the Chief Executive Officers, Femat Nigeria Limited, maintained that the call up system has failed to yield any result toward resolving traffic along the corridors.

Citing instances, Olabanji alleged that “Officials of NPA can be seen in areas like Area B Police station, Ijora Bridge, Liverpool, Wharf road and Creek road with other agencies collecting about N40, 000 from truck owners and freight forwarders on container laden trucks.

He further cleared the air on the looming protest at Lilypond terminal by freight agents under the codename “Initiative”.

According to him, the group might embark on a peaceful demonstration to drawn the attention of the federal government and the National Assembly on state of the industry.

“We are not protesting to disrupt port operations. What we intend to do is to embark on a peaceful demonstration and let the government understand what we are facing”

“We are not going to disturb anybody .We the stakeholders are ready for the demonstration but we are communicating with the relevant authorities”.

Making case for Lilypond terminal, the Chairman pleaded with the government to put in place stringent measures to revive Tin Can 2, adding that the terminal has been underutilised in the last four years.

He noted that Tin Can Area Command is dependent on the Free Trade Zone saying” Without the zone the command would have been closed down”.