The Customs Area Controller (CAC) of the Kirikiri Lighter Terminal (KLT) Command of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Comptroller Timi Bomodi, has stated that challenges of infrastructure coupled with sharp practices by terminal operators have rendered the terminal an underutilised asset.
He described the NPA Electronic Truck Call-Up System (ETO) as ineffective and contributory to the logistics challenge faced by trucks around Lagos port environs.
Bomodi made these declarations during a chat with the leadership of Maritime Reporters’ Association of Nigeria (MARAN) in his office recently.
He lamented that there is no iota of predictability with regards to truck accessibility to the Lagos ports despite the operations of NPA truck call-up system.
His words: “NPA says it uses ETO but how effective is it? What is the wait time between when a truck is granted access and when it actually gets to access the port? How long should this really take? When the containers leave the ports and they need to return the empty boxes, how long does it take?
“These are questions that need answers because we should be looking at having a system that is efficient which will lead to reduced costs and lower prices at the marketplaces. If you don’t have all these services available, then you don’t have an efficient shipping environment.
“The consequence then will be more costs that will be passed on to the final consumers and we begin to talk about inflation.”
The CAC averred that these challenges primarily caused by NPA coupled with the sharp practices of terminal operators have resigned the KLT terminal to a grossly underutilised asset.
He noted that the KLT is capable of handling 4000 TEUs but functions lower than 10 per cent of its full capacity as a result of underutilisation of its potentials.
Bomodi argued that the KLT offers more opportunities in terms of space, proximity and access to the port for the facilitation of export and import from the seaports in Lagos.
Meanwhile, he explained that Customs had initiated several meetings with NPA, terminal operators, shipping companies and other port stakeholders in a bid to enhance cargo movement to the terminal.
While stressing the need for the nation to deepen exports, he posited that the country lacks information/data, internal logistics system, payment platforms and other infrastructure that could help enhance exporting.