Presidential Committee Sets 2013 Target to Achieve 24 Hours cargo Clearance

 

Prof Sylvester Monye, Chairman of the committee, said this in an Interview with newsmen on sidelines of the annual meeting of the World Bank and International Monetary fund, in Tokyo, Japan.

``We have set ourselves a target of achieving that by the end of 2013 to have two days clearance.

``When we mean two days, we mean two days of clean cargo not two days of smuggled goods. So, if you smuggle goods, you are caught; your goods will stay there as long as possible.

‘`But for those who have genuine business, we are aiming to get their goods cleared in two days.’’ He said.

Monye, who is also a Special Adviser to the President on Monitoring and Evaluation, said that a lot had been done to bring sanity in the ports.

He said that period for the clearance of goods had been reduced from 39 to seven days, adding that with the presidential support the 24 hours target would be attained.

He also said that a ministerial committee had been set by the President to work on the recommendations of the just concluded maritime conference.  

``That has just been completed awaiting my president’s approval for us to go into implementation.

In a related event, the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) said on Tuesday that 77 ships were being expected at various terminals of Lagos ports between Oct. 16 and Nov. 2.

The NPA disclosed this in its daily publication, ``Shipping Position’’, released in Lagos on Tuesday.

The authority said that the ships were laden with new and used vehicles, bulk wheat, bulk malt and bulk sugar.

Other cargoes being expected are containers, petroleum products, fresh fish, bulk urea, base oil and rice.

The document indicated that the cargoes would arrive at the following terminals: Port and Cargo Handling Services Terminal, Josepdam Terminal, APM Terminal, Greenview Development Nig. Ltd., and Five Star Logistics.

It said that three ships, MV Ephepzibah, MV Alangova and MV Star Reliance, were waiting to berth.

The document indicated that two of the waiting ships were laden with base oil and rice, while the third ship contained empty containers.

The document also indicated that 10 fuel-laden ships would also berth at the various oil terminals at the ports.