Investigation by Shipping Position Daily has revealed that the Federal Government's efforts to diversify the nation's economy through non-oil export may continue to suffer serious setback as more than 400 export containers are currently stranded at the Lagos ports.
Speaking with Shipping Position Daily on Tuesday, the Vice President, National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO). Abdullahi Inuwa said that there are more than 400 export containers that are yet to be admitted into the terminals.
Stating that exporters who are mopping up agricultural produce for export are losing billions of dollars because most of the produce are perishable, he added that even the revenue that is accruable to the government has been lost as the export containers could not gain access into the ports.
Giving reasons as to why the containers are not being admitted into the port for export, he said the situation was a result of insincerity from the shipping companies and other operators in the port.
According to him, "generally, there is insincerity. What I mean by insincerity of the shipping companies is that, if they know that they do not have ships that will carry the produce for export or do not have any agreement that the terminal will accept it, there is no need to allow containers to be used to carry the export produce”
The NARTO chieftain also lamented that the poor processes and procedures of export documentation by agents at the nation’s ports was part of the problems facing export, while shipping lines and other operators contributed the largest problems as regards export in the country.
"In the hands of agents, before the truck will be admitted, they have to consult Customs for their export documents. So you have to make sure that any export that is coming to you, everything must be intact; not until they see the truck approaching the port, they will start preparing Customs documents," he said.
He further informed that before the COVID-19 pandemic, export cargoes gain entrance into the terminals without much stress, despite the ongoing road construction, but he maintained that since the lockdown has been relaxed, the situation worsen.
"Today, I can tell you that we have even more than 400 export containers at the port corridors that are stranded and are not being admitted to port. And it has huge economy implication because there will be revenue losses."
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