The Minister of Transportation, Engr. Mu’azu Sambo, has strongly criticized the movement of cargoes by land “to or from the Lekki Deep Sea Port”.
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| Lekki Deep Sea Port |
Following the development, the Minister has charged the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) to make sure that no movement of cargo “to or from the Lekki Deep Sea Port” is conducted unless there are rail services in place.
Sambo clarified, he is taking the decision to ensure the Apapa and TinCan Ports traffic experience does not happen again at the Lekki Deep Sea Port.
The Transportation Minister made these statements in Lagos during the weekend, as a special guest at an event which was hosted by Maritime Reporters Association of Nigeria (MARAN), to celebrate its 34th anniversary.
On movement of cargoes, Sambo said: “Lekki Deepsea Port, I have told them (the NPA) that I don’t want them to move goods to that port or from that port by road. There is no reason we should have another Apapa at the Lekki-Epe axis. I will not accept it. I have told NPA that. To start with, we must do barging; let us do barge operations that will generate a lot of jobs for people who construct barges and so on and at the same time build capacity for our people.”
On the relocation of the Apapa Port scanning room, which obstructs the rail line connected to the Port, Sambo disclosed he appealed to the Customs Comptroller General, Col Hameed Ali (Rtd) on the matter.
Sambo said: “The reason he gave me was that we (the Ministry) were supposed to have made payment to decontaminate the place and thereafter, they will come and remove the pavements. I came back to the Ministry and made inquiries. I was told that the Ministry had made the payment a long time ago. So, my intention is to go back with evidence to show the CG that we have made payment a long time ago and there is no reason that building should still be standing because I don’t understand why and how it should take an age to remove it.”
On the ease of doing business, Sambo said: “Talking about the clearing process and the ease of doing business in our ports, one of the things I’m also pursuing is the port community system. That is the surest way of taking cargo out of our ports within a matter of hours. If other African countries have a port community system working, why can’t we have it in Nigeria?”
On how essential the Customs is in the business of Ports, he said: “I want to appeal to our maritime reporters, whenever you convene an event like this, make sure that the Customs are always represented by all means even if you have to drag them by a long rope.”
