Group petitions FG over overtime cargoes at ports

Tayo Oladipupo     |       

A body of clearing agents has petitioned the Federal Government through the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) to remove uncleared overtime cargoes that have stayed for more than fourteen days after discharge from the terminals.

The group added that such cargoes are responsible for the traffic gridlock and cargo congestion in the port, saying such could hamper the government’s policy of ease of doing business in the port. 

The National Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents (NCMDLCA) said such cargoes should be moved to government warehouses to avoid congestion in the port as statutorily provided for in the Customs and Excise Management Act (CEMA), Cap 45 of 2004.

It however adduced the congestion in the port to failure to remove uncleared and seized cargoes from the port by government agencies amounting to failure to comply with the regulations given by the law.

This position was contained in a document made available to our correspondent by the National Vice President of the Association, Adeniyi Oluseye Ajayi in Lagos.

According to the document, the customs is statutorily authorised to transfer all uncleared goods from the terminals to government warehouses.

“We hereby draw the attention of the Federal Government to the need to remove the uncleared and seized cargoes to the government warehouses as statutorily provided in order to decongest the ports and raise revenue to the Federal Government.

“The Nigeria Customs are statutorily to after fifteen days or such time as the Board may direct, transfer all uncleared goods from the terminals to the government warehouses as stated in the provisions of the Act.

The group of clearing agents pleaded that such cargoes so affected should be moved to the Ikorodu warehouse as the only designated place for such cargoes.

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