Esther Oritse
Lagos — Despite interventions by the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) aimed at decongesting facilities, export cargoes are reportedly still stranded at several Export Processing Terminals (EPTs) in Lagos, raising concerns about the effectiveness of current logistics management measures.
Vanguard learned that some trucks spend up to four days at certain Export Processing Terminals before they can access the ports—a situation that could pose a serious threat to Nigeria’s export trade if not urgently addressed.
Commenting on the situation, Mr. Ridwan Bello, a trucker and chairman Use chairman Alliance of Container Trucks Professionals, ACTP, stated that the ongoing congestion along the port corridors for export cargoes is allegedly caused by trucks operating outside established entry protocols and bypassing the official entry procedures.
He said: ” I hear that some trucks that are going against the due process for truck entry into the ports are the ones causing the obstruction.
“The new Export Processing Terminal that is outside of the port corridors is the one causing this whole situation we are experiencing because they do not have the facility to pre- gate trucks before going into the ports.
“The location of this newly approved ETP is to show that there is no genuineness in this Export terminal operations.
“Again we hear certain officials of the Nigerian Ports Authority, in collusion with some security operatives, are reportedly involved in money-making schemes, where trucks are impounded and only released upon payment of N250,000.”
Speaking on the ongoing developments, an official of the Bellington Export Processing Terminal, Mr. Seun Olaseni, confirmed the disruption in the outflow of export cargoes from pre-gate facilities. He attributed the issue to alleged irregular practices by Dynamix Export Terminal, which is reportedly deploying trucks lacking proper cargo manifests.
Olaseni also disclosed that the operators of these export processing terminals have met with leadership of the Nigerian Ports Authority and part of the resolution reached at the meeting was that Dynamix should get a bigger facility to hold their trucks before they batched into the ports.
Olaseni also revealed that operators of the export processing terminals recently held a meeting with the leadership of the Nigerian Ports Authority adding that part of the resolutions reached,, was that for Dunamix was advised to acquire a larger holding facility for its trucks prior to batching them into the ports.
Speaking in defense of her terminal, Mrs. Roseline Ejiofor stated that her facility is also experiencing the same level of congestion as other Export Processing Terminals (EPTs).
She further emphasized that Dunamix has consistently complied with the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA)’s truck entry protocols for export cargoes, suggesting that the recent criticisms may stem from other EPTs feeling threatened by Dunamix’s entry into the business.
She said: “No truck can go into the ports without being manifested. We do not release trucks virtually because we have enough space in our three facilities in and around the port access roads.”
“We also suffer congestion and we are losing clients. This is mid-day and NPA has not requested for manifest, and this is affecting our operations.”
“Our facility is filled up; we cannot do new bookings except we release trucks from the terminals.”
