Vehicles Importers Lament Delay in Arrival of Carriers

Importers of vehicles in Nigeria through the Lagos ports have raised alarm over the delays experienced in the arrival of vessels that bring in their vehicles.
The importers have also faulted the shipping position document issued daily by the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) at the end of its berthing meetings, saying that the document does not usually tally with the date of vessel arrivals on importers bill of laden.

Importers of vehicles in Nigeria through the Lagos ports have raised alarm over the delays experienced in the arrival of vessels that bring in their vehicles.
The importers have also faulted the shipping position document issued daily by the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) at the end of its berthing meetings, saying that the document does not usually tally with the date of vessel arrivals on importers bill of laden.
A nascent group known as the Vehicle Importers of Nigeria [VIN] told Shipping Position Daily in Lagos that what they have on their Bill of laden are sometimes contrary to what they see on the NPA document. This according to them has led to paying unnecessary cash to clearing agents.
‘’The daily shipping position of vessels expected on imported vehicles into the Lagos pilotage district has made some importers to pay unnecessary fees to their agents and we advise that the Nigerian Port Authority should give detailed information on arrival of vessels carrying vehicles’’ they charged.
A member of the group, Mr. Osih Ndubuisi lamented that it took almost one week before he was able to confirm that one of his expected vessel had berthed, and this led to delays in the clearing procedures on his vehicles.
According to him, the vessel was expected to berth on the 15th of September 2012, but unfortunately, it arrived on the 21st, he claimed that this irregularity in arrival date made him to pay unbudgeted monies.
Ndubuisi also disclosed that such situation which is uncommon in neighboring ports in West Africa is unfortunately a common occurrence in the RORO terminals in Lagos.  
He noted that, ‘’clearing agents are using this purpose to extort us the importers, and the authority in charge should look into this issue to ensure better performance in clearing of vehicles from the port.’’
He commended the RORO terminals of Port and Terminal Multiservice Limited [PTML] and Five Star Logistics Terminal for the improvement services and secured vehicles at the port.