Low port activities in
Port Harcourt, Calabar and Warri Ports is now a source of worry for the new Customs Coordinator, Zone C Area Command, Port Harcourt, Mr Azarema Abdulkadir.
Abdulkadir, who made this assertion in an interview with newsmen in Port Harcourt after assumption of office, said the ports were underutilised  by less than 40 per cent.
The Customs Zone C boss said some of the challenges had been low tide as the water channels within the Ports were shallow and needed dredging.
According to him, after the dredging, bigger vessels with 25,000 metric tons capacity could sail to the Port conveniently, and appealed to the authorities to dredge the ports waterways for improved Port activities.
He opined that the Federal Ocean Terminal and Federal Ligher Terminal at Onne Port Complex had more patronage due to its deep water level than these other Ports in the zone.
Abdulkadir, who also expressed delight with the co-operation from all stakeholders in the zone since he assumed duty promised to sustain the cordial working relationship in order to fast-track the port activities in compliance with the law.
“With this compliance under the law, there is free flow of trade, meaning that trade facilitation at the various ports is working.
“I will say there is at least 60 per cent compliance”, he said.
The Coordinator however reiterated the need for all officers and men of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) in the zone to be ICT compliant, adding that it has numerous benefits including fast-tracking, facilitating trade among others, and called on all controllers under the command to ensure that their men are ICT compliant for better services in line with the global best practice.

Collins Barasimeye