Business
Operators Decry Slow Cargo Delivery At Onne Port
Maritime operators have
expressed concern over delays being experienced in cargo delivery at the Onne Port in Rivers State.
The operators, shortly after a joint meeting, told newsmen on Thursday that they were not comfortable with the operations of terminal operators at the port, particularly the Intels Services in terms of cargo handling and delivery.
Spokesman of the operators, Mr Olumide Ajanaku who is of the Association of Nigerian Licenced Customs Agents (ANLCA) stated that the number of containers being positioned daily for examination by Intels and other terminal operators, were too low.
He said that the situation in terms of delay in cargo processing situation would have worsened if not for the efforts of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) who have introduced methods that will fast-track the process.
Ajanaku urged the management of the terminal to improve on its services in positioning more containers in order to bring down the storage charges levied by the terminal operators, pointing out that INTELS charges are very high.
The Customs agent also urged the Federal Government as well as the state government, the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) to assist Customs’ agents in the smooth operations at the ports.
The operator’s Joint meeting, The Tide gathered, was attended by representatives of National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) and Association of Registered Freight Forwarders of Nigeria (AREFFN), among others.
Corlins Walter