The two Roll-on Roll -off (RORO) terminal operators at Tin Can Island Port; have been advised to put security in place during transfer of vehicles to their off-dock facilities located outside the port environment.
The two terminals namely, Five Star Logistics terminal and Ports and Terminal Multiservices Limited (PTML) both have vehicular terminals outside the port where imported vehicles are transported to for onward delivery to their consignees.
The two Roll-on Roll -off (RORO) terminal operators at Tin Can Island Port; have been advised to put security in place during transfer of vehicles to their off-dock facilities located outside the port environment.
The two terminals namely, Five Star Logistics terminal and Ports and Terminal Multiservices Limited (PTML) both have vehicular terminals outside the port where imported vehicles are transported to for onward delivery to their consignees.
While Five Star Logistics terminal patronises Clarion Bonded terminal located at Alakija off Old Ojo road, PTML has its own off-dock terminal at Mile 2 on the Apapa Oshodi expressway in Lagos.
However the mode of transfer by the two terminal operators differs; while Five Star Logistics terminal uses the road as a mean of transfer to the Alakija-based terminal, PTML makes use of waterways whereby barges convey vehicles in units to the Mile 2-based terminal.
Overtime there have been alleged cases whereby employees of contractors have attempted to divert vehicles to unknown destinations.
The recent case of diversion of vehicle occurred when a brand new vehicle (Toyota SUV) 2012 model that was supposedly meant for Clarion terminal from Five Star Logistics disappeared into the thin air.
Till date, no one has ever known the whereabouts of the vehicle which is estimated to cost about N10 million and as a result the contractor lost his deal with the terminal operator, job losses were recorded even some of the workers are still in police custody undergoing questioning.
The culprit involved in the theft of the SUV car has not been seen and it was also learnt that the alleged criminal and his family are no longer in Nigeria.
But Auto Port Weekly learnt the terminal operator has paid the cost of the lost vehicle to its owner.
Investigation by Auto Port Weekly has also revealed that the water transport system of transfer, which is common with PTML, has not recorded any form of theft as a result of diversion of vehicles in transit. But there is a possibility.
For instance, there are roads linking the waterways whereby the barges that convey the vehicles to Mile 2 terminal can divert.
Investigations also revealed that there is no form of security on the part of the two terminal operators during the process of transfer of vehicles either through water transport system or through the road.
Apart from safety of the vehicles to the off dock destinations, there is also the need for the terminal operators to monitor the activities of the workers during the process of transfer.
Concerned stakeholders in the maritime sector have cautioned the RORO terminal operators to wake up and do the right things fast.
Sampling operators’ opinions on the need for security personnel to accompany the workers whose duties involve transfer of the vehicles to off dock terminals from the ports, there is an agreement that it is long overdue.
An importer -cum –dealer; Mr Uzonuoma Stephens stressed that the drivers of the vehicles need to be monitored by the terminal operators.
The importer urged the concessionaires to provide tracking devices to monitor the movement of the vehicles whenever they exit the port gate to the off dock destination.
He urged the two RORO terminal operators to employ the services of the Nigeria Police because according him private security outfit can also connive to commit crime.
He said that it will be difficult on the part of the Nigeria police officer to connive or cooperate with those who have such intention.
In a similar reaction, a dealer who pleaded anonymity told Auto Port Weekly last week in Lagos, that security is paramount on the part of vehicle terminal operators.
While commending PTML on its initiative of providing water ways transfer of vehicles to Mile 2 , he advised Five Star Logistics to look into how vehicles can move to Alakija before the usual traffic gridlock on the Apapa Oshodi expressway and Lagos Badagry expressway, respectively.
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