Following allegations by some importers and licensed agents over the disappearance and auctioning of containers at the Ikorodu Lighter Terminal in Lagos, Sapid bonded terminal; operators of the Ikorodu terminal has disassociated itself from the theft and illegalities.
Managing director of the company, Mr. Sikiru Adetona told news men last week in Lagos that his agency is a custodian of cargo, but does not have the power to auction any cargo. According to him, activities at the terminal are determined by the Nigeria customs service, hence the inability of Sapid to take responsibilities.
Explaining the limits of the company’s powers, he explained that: “I have no authority to hold down any cargo and the issue of auctioning or flying papers, auction is being done in Abuja and not in Lagos, whoever that brings auction papers in as much as it is authenticated by the customs in the terminal, there is no way sapid agencies will tell you No, customs can not send an auction paper already processed to me to release cargo and I will say No.”
On allegations of container thefts that have been levelled by importers, he stated that security facilities at the terminal before his company’s takeover was very poor and that since its arrival at the terminal, none of the allegations have been established.
“Before we started managing Ikorodu, the security lights within the ports were not working; it was when we came in that we put it in place so that we can secure the cargoes that are there and I will still say, when they are talking of theft, none has been thoroughly established, the one that was an issue which they said four containers were missing in Ikorodu and they sent in investigative officers from Abuja, the four containers were seen and confirmed to be in the terminal still laden.
Adetona however stated that the government is not encouraging indigenous operators and that being major contributors to the economy of the country, they require government supports, even as he lamented that most off- dock facilities in the country are not being utilized to maximum capacity because some of the concessionaires are doing the work that are meant to be handled by the bonded terminals.
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