LAGOS – The Apapa Area 1 Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) on Monday said it transferred over 55,000 containers to other terminals in 2014, to avert congestion in Apapa Port, Lagos State.
The Comptroller of the command, Mr Eporwei Edike, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) the exercise reduced the costs and time of doing business by owners of the containers.
The containers were moved to Lilypond Terminal, Ijora, Kirikiri Lighter Terminal, Murtala Muhammed Airport Command
(MMAC), Kano, Kaduna, Oyo, Ogun and other bonded terminals.[pro_ad_display_adzone id=”10″]
“These are the containers that we have salvaged – 55,000 containers plus.
“The containers were transferred to less busy terminals.
“So, that in itself is a huge trade facilitation to reduce the time of doing business in our ports and cost of doing business.
“If the containers were to be here, demurrage would accrue from the owners.
“But when they get out of this place, of course, it means less demurrage, less time, less money, which is also good for the economy and trade.”
The comptroller said the trade volume in the command increased in 2014, compared to what it recorded in 2013.
According to him, the command recorded N301.2 billion revenue in 2014, up from N230.5 billion it recorded in 2013.
Edike attributed the increase in revenue to the performance of the Pre-Arrival Assessment Report (PAAR) regime as well as improved welfare of the NCS men and officers by the management. (NAN)