Empty Containers: Shipping lines to pay demurrage

Task force on port roads congestion has arrived at the decision that shipping line agencies would henceforth be held responsible and pay demurrage on containers held on truck backs as a result of lack of space or facilities to take delivery of returned containers.

Dilapidated trucks that break down on access roads will be fined a whooping five hundred thousand naira to be paid to the Lagos state government after which it has been evacuated and taken to a detention bay.

These are some of the decisions arrived at during the stakeholders meeting with the committee members of the presidential taskforce inaugurated to clear the perennial traffic gridlock bedevilling port access roads in Lagos.

The committee headed by the commander NNS Beecroft, Apapa, Commodore Edet Okon Eyo arrived at the decision as a means of decongesting the port access roads.

The decision which is to take effect from Monday also stated that broken down trucks along the roads would cough out a whooping five hundred thousand to the Lagos State Traffic Management Agency (LASTMA).

He said, “If your vehicle breaks down on the roads, be ready to pay N500, 000 before thinking of picking it for repairs.

“Broken down vehicles can be taken to Kirikiri, National Theatre and other places and your vehicles will be evacuated to the nearest detention facility. LASTMA will be charging a minimum of N500,000 from defaulters,” he submitted.

The Chairman of Apapa Local Government Area, Adele Elijah Owolabi stated that truck drivers and owners should henceforth not be made to pay for costs which are not their faults.

He however called on truck drivers to henceforth make reports to his office and the commander of NNS Beecroft so as to enforce the payment of demurrage on erring shipping agencies.

His words, “Take the pictures of your trucks once you have brought it to where is designated for you to take it to, send it to Commodore and send it to me.

“If they hold you up to two days, we will charge the respective shipping company because nobody can do this in their countries. The system has to change. It is a must.

“Please buy good phones for these drivers. I am going to tell the Vice President, I am going to tell the governor. I just need pictorial evidence.”