In order to address the ongoing situation surrounding overtime cargoes in the nation’s seaports and terminals, the Federal Government yesterday established a joint task team made up of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Ministry of Transportation, and others.
Dr. Magdalene Ajani, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Transportation (FMT) and Chairperson of the Committee, emphasized the need to clear overtime cargoes at ports and terminals while swearing in the task team’s new members in Abuja. She claimed that their presence had reduced the amount of cargoes that could be handled.
The Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Transportation, Dr. Magdalene Ajani, who inaugurated the task force, said that it was established to address the challenges of overtime cargoes at ports. She said that the presence of overtime cargoes at ports had reduced the amount of cargoes that could be handled, which had led to congestion and delays.
She regretted that the high proportion of overtime cargos had caused a sharp decrease in the amount of cargo entering the nation, adding that this had eventually had an impact on Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).
The clearing of overtime cargoes, according to the Permanent Secretary, should apply to all domestic ports and terminals, not just the Ikorodu Lighter Terminal, Lagos Port Complex, and TinCan Island Port Complex.
Thee Federal Government EstablishAccording to Ajani, the task team was established following multiple discussions between the Permanent Secretary, Mu’azu Sambo, the Comptroller General of NCS, Hameed Ali, and others.
