HeadlinesNews Nigerian Exporters accuse TICT of frustrating export trade By maritimemag July 2, 2019 ShareTweet 0 By David Oladimeji Nigerian Exporters who wish to export their goods through the Tin-Can port have accused the management of Tin Can Island Container Terminal(TICT) of frustrating their efforts through what they described as bare-faced discrimination, official handedness and extortionist tendency which they claimed have debilitating effect on government efforts to promote export trade. It would be recalled that the Central government of Nigeria controlled by the All Progressive (APC) holds exports policies sacrosanct. The government headed by President Muhammadu Buhari has never minced on his unwavering support of exportation of Nigerian products to earn foreign exchange. The government insists that it would continue to make policies that would be favorable to exporters and their trade. To back words with action, the government has been dishing out several incentives to exporters in the country as a means of encouraging Nigeria’s export trade. As the government continues to show its support for exporters, it appears that the Tincan Island Container Terminal (TICT) is busy erecting brick walls and mounting many obstacles to discourage exporters and frustrate export trade in Nigeria. Investigations revealed that TICTis deliberately frustrating export trade with its anti-trade measures. This reporter was told by many exporters that TICT management which is headed by foreign nationals argues that it prefers opening its doors to foreign goods to export goods. Dependable sources said TICT argues that it rakes in more profit from containers bearing imports than from export containers. Investigations further revealed that there is alleged falsification of records of import in TICT terminal which made the owners rake in undue profits at the expense of the country. For this reason, TICT management had allegedly told agents of exporters that its terminal would create only a limited space for storage of export containers amid an increasing volume of export products that seek to use the terminal. Exporters’ agents who spoke to this reporter said it is their desire to engage in export trade because it will help to boost Nigeria’s economy. They complained that they have had to bear the effects of the dilapidated Apapa roads which the authorities have began to fix. They said they have also managed to overcome some hurdles they encounter with government agencies that render different services in documentation and clearance services. Checks revealed that what is now the nightmare of Nigerian Exporters is the TICT hurdles which have destroyed their business. They accused TICT of having manipulated and adjusted its weighing machine. “Every now and then,they claim our containers are overweight and this is after we have completed the process of documentation. They would insist that any weight above 30 containers to Apapa, they would weigh about 27 tonnes. So what is wrong with TICT weighing machine”, one agent lamented. ‘If there was an issue of overweight containers, should that not be an issue to be handled by the shipping company? ‘Is TICT a shipping company? Why is TICT the one to decide what to export?’ another distraught exporter queried. Efforts to speak with any official of the terminal operators were rebuffed. © 2019, maritimemag. All rights reserved.
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