The National Financial Secretary of Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Hajia Bola Muse..has accused AP Molar Terminal in Apapa Port of being a stumbling block to trade facilitation .
She called on the federal government to review the concession agreement it had with AP Molar Terminal for inefficiency and ineffectiveness in service delivery.
Hajia Muse who is also the MD/CEO Bomarah Investment Limited made the accusation while fielding questions from some journalists in her office in Lagos said the call for the review of the agreement has become necessary in view of APMT inability to keep with the terms and conditions of agreement.
She pointed out that the Terminal operator has made itself a ‘thin god’, hence unapproachable, inaccessible, nonchalant to their duties and accountable to relevant authorities in Port.
Hajia lamented that APMT is the only Terminal whose services is far below expectation, said container paid for positioning are not positioned for examination in their terminal for days and weeks thereby causing delays and dumurage by Importers, while end users (consumers) bear the brunt.
In her words, ” APMT in Apapa is our headache in our country today because they believe that they are the lord’s.. I am of the opinion that their agreement should be reviewed. They do what they like. They will collect money without positioning container for examination within the frame time rather, they will give you their convenient time, which is wrong.
“Container examination is only for One hour. I don’t know why it has to take 5-10 days before they can drop a container while the terminal is empty, they are not receiving empty containers and at the end of the day, the importer pays demurrage. The cost will be transferred to the end users who bears the brunt.
“I am of the opinion that the concession agreement should be reviewed by the federal government. Government should also call them to order.”
It would be recalled that in June, the NAGAFF 100% Compliance Team staged a protest against APM Terminal over their non-challant attitude, ineffective and inefficient services which according to them put a stud in trade facilitation..
The protest was however called off due to the intervention of the Apapa Customs Area Controller and the Managing Director of the terminal.
Information reaching Time News Reporter has it that the agreement reached during the meeting between the management of APMT and Compliance Team has been swept under the carpet by the terminal management.
According to the Team official, a grace period of one week has been extended to the terminal management to honour the agreement or face their wrath.
Photo: Hajia Bola Muse, MD/CEO Bomarah Investment Ltd.
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