The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Mr Adegboyega Oyetola, has highlighted the government’s plans to engage the management of the Nigeria Customs Service(NCS) to resolve issues of about 6,000 abandoned cargoes at the port.
Oyetola said this at his maiden visit to the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) in Lagos on Wednesday.
According to Oyetola, these cargoes occupy space and the country is losing revenue in that regard.
“On abandoned cargoes, I went on a tour in Apapa Port and they took us to where they have overtime cargoes and these cargoes have been there since 2011.
*Adegboyega Oyetola, the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy
“So, I now want to believe that it is likely to happen in other ports. This is, particularly, because Tincan and Apapa ports have about 6,000 abandoned cargoes.
“There must be a time frame by which cargo can stay, otherwise declared abandoned. To have kept a cargo since 2011, it’s unrealistic and unacceptable.
“Again, I think people have not seen much need for clearing of cargoes if it has accumulated demurrage for one reason or the other. It is because it’s uneconomical for him or her to clear.
“The person will abandon it there but as a port regulator, you may encourage early clearance of such cargo,” he said.
The minister added that Nigeria Customs should be encouraged to use scanners more than the physical examination takes longer to be completed.
He advised stakeholders at the ports to desist from corruption, saying, President Bola Tinubu’s administration has zero tolerance for such.
Earlier, in his welcome address, Mr Emmanuel Jime, Executive Secretary, NSC, highlighted issues requiring attention to include the amendment of the NSC Act to institute effective port economic regulation.
Others are the actualisation of a one percent freight stabilisation fee on import and export to the council, as enshrined in the NSC Subsidiary Legislation.
It also involves the implementation of the International Cargo Tracking Note (ICTN), the establishment of a national fleet, and others,” he said.
The NSC boss also expressed delight that the minister had already shown immense commitment to transforming the economic fortunes of the nation via the maritime sector.
“The ministry of marine and blue economy is very strategic. It was not created out of any whim. This ministry was created because of its recognition by Mr. President.
“It has on the very strategic importance of the marine and blue economy, to the starting and further creating movement of fundamental principles to the Nigerian economy.
“This agency of yours that you supervise is the laboratory where policy-making is, and the industry that drives the marine space will be actually cultivated.
“I have seen your body language and immediately you assumed office, there is this passion that you have displayed to make certain that as you supervise this very strategic nerve centre of the nation’s economy, there would be no vacuum,” he said.
Jime noted that he was convinced that the minister had come with a determination to change the narrative of the industry.
Accordingly to him, Oyetola will make sure he meets people’s expectations.
“This one agency in this industry will keep you in the route in helping in achieving that objective of yours which is to turn around the fortunes of the maritime domain.
“The objective of everyone in this room, I can assure you is to make certain that in less than no time, Nigeria becomes a maritime hub in the East and West of Africa and I believe that is what you want,” he said.
