Fresh indications has shown that the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) is unwavering in its decision to evict more than 1,800 tenants who are mostly clearing and forwarding agencies operating at the popular container complex at PTML Port at Tin Can port in Apapa, Lagos, by September 30th, 2016.
The NPA had in a letter dated February 11, 2016 through its subsidiary, Seaview properties Ltd., asked occupants of the complex to vacate their office spaces on or before September 30, 2016.
In response, the agents had in May 2016 staged a peaceful protest in order to draw NPA's attention to their plight and provide an alternative location, but the protest fell on deaf ears.
When Shipping Position Daily contacted the General Manager Public Affairs of the NPA, Capt Iheanacho Ebubeogu at that time, he had said that the agents were illegal occupants of the complex and that there was no agreement between them and the NPA.
However speaking with Shipping Position Daily last week as the eviction date draws near, Chairman of the Containerised Office Complex, Chief Chukuemeka Shedrack said the situation remains the same because NPA has refused to grant the tenants any audience.
Chukuemeka appealed to the new Managing Director of NPA, Ms Hadiza Bala Usman to look into their case and not render them homeless.
"The NPA have asked us to vacate the complex by 30th of September. We are still appealing for them to have a re-think"
"We have written a letter to the new MD, but we are yet to hear from her. We need to clear the impression that NPA had created that we are illegal tenants"
"When we meet Ms Hadiza Bala Usman and present our documents, she would know that we are not illegal tenants, we are paying our rents, we have our receipts and agreements"
"The General Manager of Seaview has told us that this is not his fight, but that NPA ordered him" he said.
Chukuemeka however confirmed that the occupants are still intact and that none of them have got alternative office space anywhere.
He said: "New tenants are even coming in and trying to get offices, there is no other place, this is the only complex around here, if you go to 2nd gate there is one at National bus stop, but at the RoRo side, we only have this container complex"
"We are supposed to have a dedicated place where agents would drop their bags and file their documents"
"By the time you move this crowed of 1,870 people out of the complex, definitely you are encouraging them to go along the road and put umbrellas"
"Each office has their staff; some of them are DTI Cafes with over 20staff working there"
The NPA had said that it was evicting the agents from the port in compliance with the ISPS Code.
Chukuemeka however argued that the occupants have been at the complex for more than 20 years and there has been no security report against them from any agency
Speaking on port automation and crowd control at the port, he said Nigeria has not got what it takes to drive automation. According to him, "the Nigerian factor would always frustrate the move because government agencies at port want to have contact with agents every day for them to make money.
"We need to approach it gradually, I believe we are trying, before now, we do not have the SGD but we are using it now, it's a step towards automation, but we must not deceive ourselves by comparing us to other developed countries" he said.
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