Shippers Urge FG To Further Reduce Cargo Clearing Period At Seaports Shippers Urge FG To Further Reduce Cargo Clearing Period At Seaports

The Shippers’ Association of Lagos State has  urged the Federal Government to further reduce cargo clearing period at the seaports.
Mr Jonathan Nicol, General Secretary of the association, made the appeal in an interview with newsmen  in Lagos.
He said that it took between 12 and 14 days or an average of two weeks to clear cargoes in some terminals.
Nicol said that this was because the satellite terminals still lacked adequate cargo handling facilities and enough space for containers.

The Shippers’ Association of Lagos State has  urged the Federal Government to further reduce cargo clearing period at the seaports.
Mr Jonathan Nicol, General Secretary of the association, made the appeal in an interview with newsmen  in Lagos.
He said that it took between 12 and 14 days or an average of two weeks to clear cargoes in some terminals.
Nicol said that this was because the satellite terminals still lacked adequate cargo handling facilities and enough space for containers.
Nicol said that late resumption to work by some government officials“does not convey the message that the Federal Government wants to clear cargoes within 48 hours’’.
He said that under the current situation, it could take two days to get the Delivery Note in a terminal in Lagos port.
According to him, it can take three days to drop containers, two days for customs examination and release and a day for Terminal Delivery Order.
He said that the clearing agent would need to take his truck to the terminal for between two and three hours due to the gridlock in Apapa.
The shipper said that the agent would still face some bottlenecks at the gates while going out.
He said that all these processes could be handled within seven days if properly streamlined.
“That is where as soon as a vessel comes in, it discharges its contents and resident customs officers perform the examination and release the cargo same day’’.
“After this, invoices will be raised to pay the storage charges.’’
“That, you can do within a few hours and once you pay, you put in your truck and the next two hours you are out of that terminal with your cargo.
“Where you failed to take delivery, the terminal management will validate the TDO till 12 noon the next day,’’ Nicol said.