ANLCA petitions NPA over congestion at Five Star Logistics Terminal

By Dapo Olawuni

The Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) has petitioned the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) on the activities of a terminal operator; Five Star Logistics Terminal at Tin Can Island Port, saying that the operator has deviated from its terms of agreement of the concessioning.

The association observed that Five Star Terminal by its design was meant to be a Roll On Roll Off (vehicles) terminal, it alleged that rather than handle vehicle, Five Star Terminal is now congested with containers, thereby making it difficult for vehicle importers.

In the letter titled “Re: Letter of Protest Against Five Star Logistics” was addressed to the Managing Director of NPA and dated 2nd April, 2019 with reference number ANLCA/LPAFSL/098/4/19/NVP.

It was signed by ANLCA Vice President, Dr. Kayode Farinto.

The association expressed deep concerns that Five Star Logistics Terminal is now totally flooded with containers instead of Roll-On-Roll Off (RORO) vehicles the terminal was designed and contracted to handle.

According to the petition, it alleged that “From the time the terminal was built, it was known to be a RORO Terminal where RORO vessels berth and where our members always take delivery of vehicles”

“Only few specialized containers that berthed with RORO vessels were permitted to be handled in the terminal. Surprisingly however, full load vessels of containers have been berthing and discharging at the terminal for some time now”

“Thus, the terminal is filled to capacity with containers with no space for vehicles. Consequently, RORO vessels cannot be accommodated and this is taking away the businesses and means of livelihood of our members”

“It is our believe that the clear deviation of FIve Star from its approved business and the business for which the terminal was designed is a breach of the terms of the agreement it reached with the Nigerian Ports Authority and Federal Government of Nigeria”

“Five Star Logistics Terminal was deliberately designed as a RORO Terminal by the Federal Government”

“It is the principal terminal handling vehicles in Nigeria. It is therefore strange to imagine that such terminal is about to by be phased out due to greediness of few people. This unethical business practice should be nipped in the bud as failure to do so will have negative impact on the nation as well as the wellbeing of our members”

“We therefore once again urge you to investigate the activates of Five Star Logistics with a view to preventing this foreseeable but looming disaster”
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However, when pur correspondent contacted a staff of Five Star Terminal who pleaded anonymity because he was not authorized to speak, he said the terminal is a Multiservices terminal and that its concession agreement clearly allows her to handle general cargoes.

He said “What is the business of ANLCA? are they the people that leased the terminal to Five Star Terminal? do they know what the agreement says, have they seen the agreement?

“Grimaldi Shipping handles general cargo and vehicles, Five Star is also the same like them, it is a multi terminal and that is what the name says, Multiservices”

“By our agreement, Five Star Terminal is a Multiservices terminal, so these ANLCA people don’t know what they are doing, they should go and concentrate on other things that would help them”

“If they want to know facts, they should go to the Bureau of Public Enterprise (BPE) which was part of the lease agreement to go and see what is written in the lease agreement” he said.