Clearing Agents Commend Customs For Revitalising Lilypond Terminal

Some freight forward
ers and clearing agents at the Lilypond Terminal in Ijora on Thursday, commended stakeholders, especially the Nigeria Customs Services (NCS), for sustaining high level business at the terminal.
The agents told newsmen in Lagos that the immediate past and current comptroller of the command were committed to the spirit behind the establishment of the terminal.
Our correspondent reports that Lily Pond Container terminal was among the terminals concession in 2006.
Chief Lawrence Uba, Chairman of the Igbo Maritime, Lilypond Chapter, said that the terminal was resuscitated through the efforts and encouragement of Comptroller General, Mr Abdullahi Dikko.
“During the dry or comatose period, Dikko came to Lagos to speak with APM Terminal and other shipping companies to give us cargoes.
“He gave us the assurance that the terminal will boom and with his encouragement and other customs officers in charge, Lilypond terminal has been revived,’’ Uba said.
The Tide recalls that Lilypond was concession to Maeserk Line Nigeria, while Apapa was concession to APM Terminal Nigeria Ltd.
Uba said that the effective resuscitation of Lilypond terminal had justified Customs earlier refusal to the request by APM management to use the terminal for empty containers storage.
He also urged the new area Comptroller, Ms Talatu Isa, to sustain the terminal by ensuring the flow of more ships.
Mr Chuks Nemanze, the Branch Chairman of Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), also urged the area comptroller to ensure that more cargoes were brought into the terminal.
“Since Isa was posted here, more vessels are coming into the terminal. Let her sustain the pace to boost the image of the terminal,’’ Njamanze said.
Dr Charles Agonmu, the Public Relations Officer of Lilypond Customs, said that the terminal was a dry dock and a user friendly one.
Agonmu said that the Federal Government was yet to release the expected revenue target for each area command.
He said that the Lilypond area comptroller would endeavour to generate huge revenue for the country.