ANLCA Pleads For Port Harcourt Port

The newly elected executives of Association of Nigeria Licensed Custom Agents, ANLCA, led by Elder Chima Obi have called on the Federal Government to work towards attracting patronages into Port Harcourt ports.
Speaking exclusively to Shipping Position Weekly after the association’s recent general meeting, Elder Chima Obi said making the ports functional is the major challenge that should be tackled by all stakeholders.
He however expressed worries that Nigerian Ports Authourity has not done enough to attract general cargo vessels to Port Harcourt port.  According to him, the port has achieved a draught of about 8.5metres which is enough to allow general cargo and container vessels to berth at Port Harcourt ports.
According to him, congestion is localised in Lagos ports and not a problem of all the nation’s ports.  Giving an example of how government policies have not encouraged the growth of Port Harcourt port, he said when they were battling with the issue of congestion in Lagos ports, NPA could simply have diverted some of the vessels to Eastern ports, and waive the costs involved.
 “NPA said they have stopped issuing berthing rights to vessels except those that they have already given berthing rights.  Why not give them berthing and say okay, lets waive the cost, if that is the issue and let them come and berth here and discharge their vessels and go away”, he queried.
He also spoke on the issue of higher charges that are allegedly being imposed by freight forwarders in Port Harcourt ports and that license customs agents in Lagos charge lower rates for clearing. He stressed that this is untrue and that its one of the propaganda that is being used to discourage patronage from Port Harcourt ports.
 “To the best of my knowledge, since late 2003 till today, no general cargo has come to Area one in Port Harcourt port.  So, I don’t know where they got the charges from.  Is it the one they charge before 2003 or after 2003?   From 2003 till today as I’m speaking to you now, no container cargo has come to Area one, so that is propaganda, they want to use it to discourage or fight against Port Harcourt ports”, he argued.
He also described the relationship between the management of NPA in the eastern zone and the association has been very cordial adding that “the interactions we have had with the General Manager was a very fruitful one.  He’s also fighting to see that the place does not die”.