Association Decries Ikorodu Terminal Operator’s Inefficiency

The Association of Nigerian Licensed Custom Agents (ANLCA) on Thursday expressed dissatisfaction with the inefficiency of the Terminal Operator at the Ikorodu Lighter Terminal.
The General Secretary of ANLCA, Mr Akeem Bashir, told newsmen in Lagos that the members’ activities were affected by the inefficiency of the terminal operator known as SAPID.
Bashir said that many containers brought from ports were being delayed for several hours before being stemmed into the terminal.
“We have cordial relations with the Customs; you can see me moving in and out with the operation officer.
“There is no way there won’t be challenges in every area of operations.
“What we have on ground is out of the three plants by SAPID, we still have one that is functioning; the rest are still under repairs.
“So we implore them to buckle up so that they can meet the challenges on the ground.
“One plant cannot drop 100 containers, 50 containers, 30 containers. Does it mean that the three machines are working? They can work hand-in-hand.
“ Yesterday, the plant broke down and it took them about two to three hours to bring it back to function.
“Suppose, the ones on the ground are okay by the time that one is faulty the other one will pick up. We are begging SAPID to rise up to these challenges,“ Bashir said.
He commended the efforts of the Customs officer-in-charge of the terminal for his support by making sure that operation was still moving on at the terminal.
In his contribution, the Assistant Secretary of ANLCA, Mr David Mekwunye, also urged the Operations Manager of the terminal to supervise the operation always.
“Without him supervising the terminal, work will be slow on their part because the Customs members of staff are doing their work diligently,“ Makwunye said.
Reacting, Mr Francis Itsede, Operations Manager of SAPID, said that the three plants mounted at Ikorodu Lighter Terminal were functioning.
“There is something they call ’operation surge’. When the NPA (Nigerian Ports Authority) are transferring containers, it is something that come in 100, 150 on a daily basis.
“They will want you to be receiving them and at the same time be attending to them.
“So we told them not until we receive these containers before we can have time to attend to agents.