The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has announced its intention to relocate the export screening services of APM Terminals Apapa away from their current location at the gate, effective from May 1, 2024. This move is aimed at reducing delays and enhancing the efficiency of cargo exports. The announcement was made by the NPA’s Managing Director, Mallam Mohammed Bello-Koko on Tuesday during a quarterly stakeholder meeting organized by Bellington Cargo Limited at their newly expanded import and export cargo terminal located in Okokomaiko, along the Lagos-Badagry expressway (Lagos-Abidjan corridor), Lagos State.
Represented by Charles Okaga, the Port Manager of the NPA Lagos Ports Complex (LPC), Bello-Koko addressed various concerns raised by stakeholders about the persistent challenges with export cargoes, particularly at the APM Terminals and Tin Can Island Container Terminals (TICT). He emphasized that the management of APMT Apapa has been instructed to eliminate any obstacles that impede the movement of cargo-laden trucks involved in export operations, underlining the Federal Government’s commitment to ensuring smooth exportation processes.
“The APM terminal will relocate their export screening operations to the main gate of the port. This change will allow export trucks to proceed directly to the terminal without any further delays or hindrances once their screening is complete,” Bello-Koko stated.
He also highlighted the robust participation of stakeholders at the meeting, noting that approximately 70 percent of the issues raised had been addressed, with plans to tackle newly identified problems through further stakeholder forums. These forums are intended to foster dialogue and develop practical, actionable solutions.
In his remarks about the Bellington facility, Bello-Koko praised the efforts of local businesses in promoting economic growth and described the terminal as a pivotal development for bringing port operations closer to the hinterlands and facilitating easier export processes.
He also encouraged exporters to leverage the opportunities provided by the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), pointing out that the strategic location of Bellington Cargo Limited along the Lagos-Abidjan corridor plays a crucial role in the exportation of Nigerian goods.
Additionally, Mr. Augustine Esiekpe, Managing Director of Bellington Cargo Limited, appealed to government authorities at all levels to address the issues of harassment and extortion by local thugs, known as Agberos, targeting truck drivers and their assistants. He expressed concern over the numerous challenges faced by exporters due to these disruptions and announced plans for an enlarged stakeholders meeting in two months to discuss and resolve these issues. Esiekpe also mentioned that more federal agencies, including the Nigerian Shippers Council, would participate in the upcoming meeting.
The gathering also saw stakeholders express frustrations with the management of APMT, Apapa over significant delays experienced by export cargoes at the port, citing instances where cargoes were held up for nearly 13 days, which hampers trade facilitation efforts.
Bellington Cargo Limited operates a private-owned, expanded import/export facility equipped with the NPA E-call Up System and features extensive facilities including a large stuffing space, weighbridge, customs cargo examination, warehousing, haulage services, and more. The terminal’s strategic location in Okokomaiko, Lagos State, provides convenient access to Apapa and Tin Can Island Ports and is just a few hours’ drive from the Seme/Krake border post, connecting to ECOWAS countries like Benin Republic, Togo, Ghana, and Ivory Coast.
