The National Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents (NCMDLCA) has charged the management of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) on the need to utilize the 7% port development Levy to create navigable channels on the waters for cargoes to be transferred to Kirikiri Lighter Terminal.
The founder of NCMDLCA, Mr. Lucky Amiwero who said this in a chat with Shipping Position Daily in Apapa last week, reiterated that the move will help reduce pressure from the congestion in Lagos ports which will also help to avoid the litigations which may arise from diverting ships to other ports.
“The part of NPA’s collection of 7% port Development Levy, should be utilized to create navigable channels and berthing facilities, so as to move cargos from the wet port to the Kirikiri Lighter Port, which will help to ease the pressure from gridlock, thereby avoiding the litigation for diverting cargoes destined for Lagos Ports to other ports”
According to him, NPA Act Section 32 empowers the agency to maintain, control and mange channels and approaches to the nation’s ports which includes making the channels free and navigable for vessels.
Amiwero however called for a state of emergency on Lagos ports which according to him will help to wave the complexity of the lease agreement with the empty terminal owners at Kirikiri.
“The state of emergency is to wave the complexity of the lease agreement with the empty terminal owners at Kirikiri Lighter Port and the cargo traffic elements on the concession agreement with concessioners”
“This is to enable the faster movement of more containers from the wet Ports within Lagos by barges to the Kirikiri Lighter Port, which will eventually prevent international and local litigation on the deviating of cargos to other ports, which is not port of destination in contract of carriage”
He however warned the agency on the need to avoid international litigations which will arise from the diversion of Lagos bond cargos to other ports.
Amiwero added that measure should be taken not to put more pressure to the trading community but instead look for possible way to solve the problems.
“The doctrine of deviation is the “agreed route” is identified from the contract of carriage as evidenced by the Bill of Lading the Port of origin and destination defines the route, and deviation is a departure from the agreed route to usual route which amount to serious breach”
“We wish to state here that measure should be taken not to put more pressure on the trading community but to look for possible ways to solved the problems with experts, who are ready to give their service for the nation to remedy the situation in our ports” he concluded.
