Customs Gives Dec.31 Deadline For Removal Of Abandoned PHCN’s Equipment From Ikorodu Terminal

Successor companies that took over assets and liabilities of the defunct PHCN must remove their abandoned imported electricity equipment from Ikorodu Lighter Terminal before end of this year or forfeit them to the Federal Government. 
Assistant Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) in charge of Zone A, Mr Eporwei Edike gave the ultimatum on Wednesday while on a visit to the terminal at Ikorodu, which the Nigeria Customs Service uses as its warehouse for overtime cargoes. 
He lamented that the electricity equipment imported by the defunct Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) had been left unclaimed at the terminal in Lagos for years. He consequently gave a December 31, 2015 deadline for the removal of the equipment.
“The relevant agencies must remove the overtime consignments before Dec. 31 or forfeit them to the Federal Government’’, he said. 
Edike said that the Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Retired Col. Hameed Ali, had given the directives to decongest the terminal of overtime containers.
“It is incumbent on all officers, including myself, to support the C-G to achieve his policy thrust, anchored on transparency, honesty and integrity.’’
He said that the service had also reduced charges to enable the owners to clear the goods from the terminal.
“A lot of containers loaded with electricity equipment lying uncleared at the terminal belongs to the defunct PHCN. These containers were deployed there from the ports.
“We are pleading with them to come and take delivery of the goods and use them for the benefit of Nigerians,’’ Edike said.
He said that the Jigawa State Government had 50 containers of tricycles (Keke NAPEP) while 20 containers containing building equipment belong to the Delta State Government.
Edike also noted that the Area Controller of Ikorodu Lighter Terminal, Comptroller Nasir Ahmed, said that some of the containers were transferred to the terminal between 2011 and 2015.
He said that the service had also auctioned the goods to the owners, stressing that they refused to take them away from the terminal.
Ahmed, however, stressed the need for continuous training of officers at the terminal.