NPA to sanction shipping coys, terminal operators over non-compliance to holding bays

The authority in change of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has threatened to sanction shipping companies and terminal operators over noncompliance to agreement on holding bays.

It said very stiff sanction and penalties awaited all erring shipping companies and terminal operators that refused to play by the rules.

The agreement, which was reached in November 2017 between the shipping companies, terminal operators and the NPA, compelled all shipping companies and terminal operators to provide holding bays for their trucks and containers through the newly adopted call-up system.

These were part of the resolutions adopted at the end of two meetings between the Managing Director of NPA, Hadiza Bala Usman, and the leadership of truck drivers and Maritime Workers Union in response to recent protests by truck drivers at the Lagos Port Complex (LPC) and Tin Can Island Port (TCIP).

A statement issued by the NPA signed by Isah Suwaid, Assistant Gen. Manager, Corporate Communication on behalf of the general manager states; the “Managing Director informed the meeting on Wednesday (11th July, 2018) that the authority has launched an investigation into the level of compliance or non-compliance to the agreements reached between the authority, shipping companies and terminal operators.

It warned that “Any company found to have contravened this agreement will be sanctioned”.

He said on the newly adopted call-up system for trucks accessing the port, Hadiza Usman explained that the authority had consulted widely with all stakeholders before the introduction of the system, adding that the system has proved to be the most effective way of managing traffic in the Apapa axis till date.