Anxiety Grip Freight Forwarders As NPA Issue 48-hours Evacuation Notice At Tin Can Port Office Complex
The Tin Can Island Port of Lagos also known as RoRo Port
By DAPO OLAWUNI
There is palpable anxiety among freight forwarders operating at the popular “National Office Complex” at the Tin Can Island Port which is being operated by Seaview Properties Limited, a subsidiary of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) as the authority on Friday served an interim evacuation notice on all occupants of the Complex to vacate within 48hours.
The National Complex serves as Office space for most freight forwarders operating at the port, as well as food vendors, businesses as well as secretariat of some of the freight forwarding associations.
However, in the “NOTICE OF INTERIM EVACUATION WITHIN 48 HOURS” which was served by the NPA on Friday, a copy of which was sighted by our correspondent, the agency said the action is to maintain optimal Health and Environmental condition of the premises.
It says “In view of the above: All businesses must be shut down, All vehicles must be evacuated, All individuals are prohibited from entry”
Meanwhile, many of the freight forwarders and occupants of the building are in confusion as to the resson behind the evacuation notice.
But,speaking with DAILY TREND, National Publicity Secretary of Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) Emmanuel Onyeme confirmed that the evacuation notice was issued following a visit by the Port Health.
According to him “The evacuation notice was not for us to leave the complex permanently, but for the port health to clean up the environment which they found out is so dirty
“Two weeks ago, they visited and sealed up all the food canteen. They found out that the water in the place is also located to a very dirty environment. Hence the evacuation notice is for 48hours starting from Saturday and Sunday, in order to allow proper clean up of the environment ”
“So, the notice is not for offices to vacate the premises permanently, but to allow them sanitize the place” he said
It’s a routine cleanning exercise that was aboundone for quite some time now and for a thorough job, everyone was asked to vacate the premises for an external Cleaning on Saturday and Sunday only. The order is justified and highly commendable.