Clearing Agents Raise Alarm, As Cost of Transporting Containers from Apapa Port Rises from N400,000 to N700,000

4
Screenshot_20241105_075503_Gallery

ANLCA Zonal Coordinator, West, Alhaji Femi Anifowoshe

By DAPO OLAWUNI

Licensed customs agents operating at the nation’s ports have raised fresh alarm over the recent increase in the cost of transporting containers from Apapa port to other parts of the Lagos metropolis have increased from N400,000 to N700,000 in the last two weeks.

Zonal Coordinator West for the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) Alhaji Femi Anifowoshe attributed the increase to the fresh gridlock and delay in trucks accessing the port due to incompetency of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and the inefficiencies of terminal operators, APM Terminals Apapa.

According to the ANLCA Zonal Coordinator, trucks are now spending several days on queue before they can access the port, adding that the NPA Eto Call-Up system for trucks has fallen short of expectations lately.

“The Eto call-up is causing trouble now because container transport has increased now like 40%.
We were paying Apapa to Lagos before, at N400,000, but now we will be hearing N700,000 or N650,000 for just a container going to Lagos” Anifowoshe said

Alhaji Femi Anifowoshe, Chief Executive of FEMSON international Agencies

When asked what is responsible for this new increment, the ANLCA topshort said “The NPA knows whatever is happening, and the APMT terminals know whatever is happening, because if you go to Eto Call-up system, they will tell you APM Terminals did not authorise them to release trucks to come to the terminal.

“If you go to the APMT terminal, they will tell you another story that their terminal is empty; they are waiting for NPA’s Eto Call-Up to deploy trucks, Who do we believe? Where do we go from there? They are just playing pranks on us because we don’t have a leadership in the country, there is no agency that will stand firm for us.
This challenge just started about three weeks ago”

Anifowoshe said that as the yuletide is approaching, the Nigerian Ports has remained dry and importation has dropped drastically compared to years before.

He blamed the situation on the exchange rate policy of the President Bola Tinubu administration, even as he advised that the exchange rate for cargo import should be pegged at a fixed amount.

“Clearing agents ought be happy by now because of the festivities time and end-of-year rush, going to the bank to pay duty and doing one or two things to help the importers clear their goods and sell to the end user.

“But now, the port is dry. If you are comparing this year to this time last year, importation has reduced drastically. We are praying the Federal Government to take a second look at the policy of the dollar exchange rate. Let them take the estimate to a certain amount instead of just floating.

“Let them peg the estimate, maybe to N600 per dollar or N700 per dollar. Nigeria is not an industrial nation; we are an importing nation

“We appeal to Mr President to use his federal power, his leniency, to look at the masses that are suffering” he said

Facebook Comments Box

4 thoughts on “Clearing Agents Raise Alarm, As Cost of Transporting Containers from Apapa Port Rises from N400,000 to N700,000

  1. Right from the day the govt conscecion the port to AP Moller that was the day they destroyed Apapa port check out their history in other ports of the world they have operated in they ended up being chased out but in Nigeria blind eyes are turned against a rotten systems

    1. Is there any truth in this assertion? Because I just don’t understand why we can’t manage the simple expedient of the orderly movement of trucks in and out of the ports and in such a critical part of our economy. We’re already struggling with the exchange rate losses, why can’t we manage logistics?

  2. ANCLA should stand and address this.
    What do we call association?
    Any association that can not defend the interest of her members is not fit to exist.
    Enough of these stories. Represent us well.

  3. ANCLA & others…are there for their selfish interest Not for the members…just to collect tickets Money etc. They should prove any area of their usefulness to the members….!!!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Share