In a bid to make Nigeria’s seaports more operational and yield more revenue, the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has inaugurated a joint Task Team/Committee to handle issues of congestion caused by overtime cargoes across the ports.
The committee, the Authority said, would ensure that all delayed cargoes are evacuated in order to create space for use at the ports.
Managing Director, NPA, Mohammed Bello Koko stated this  during a stakeholders’ sensitisation meeting of overtime cargos, organised by the Joint Task Team/Committee handling issues of overtime cargoes at port/terminal locations in the country held at the Eastern Ports, Port Harcourt.
Noting that the congestion of the ports with cargoes impedes ports operations, Koko said, “We want to ensure free movement of cargoes in the ports, the era of abandoned cargoes is gone, we want to improve ports service for efficiency”.
He noted that the committee would ensure that cargoes do not over stay at the ports unnecessarily.
“If there is inadequate space, it deprives NPA of needed revenue to make for their operation. Overtime cargoes are a common thing in the ports”, he said.
Represented by the Port Manager, Onne, Stanley Majagi Eno, Koko said further that when space in the terminal becomes clogged, it affects movement of cargoes.
“Before the cargo operator picks a new container, old ones have to be removed, and that means multiple handlings.
“When Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) decides to auction the cargoes, the owner gets nothing, the terminal operators get nothing”, he noted.
The Managing Director continued that one of the reasons freights in Coutonou ports were lower than what it is in Nigeria was issues of overtime cargos that have affected berthing of ships.
“Our concern is how issues of overtime cargo can be resolved. These are common problems everywhere.
“NPA is willing to collaborate, to give all its resources, to ensure we have good results from this exercise.