ABUJA: The Nigeria Customs Service has said that it would compel terminal operators to stem containers to private bonded terminal to forestall congestion at the nation’s seaports, especially as the Yuletide season, which is characterised by increased imports and attendant port congestion approaches.
Comptroller General of the service, Col. Hameed Ali, who read the riot act, warned that the era of terminal operators stockpiling four containers high while most bonded terminals remain empty, thus leading to congestion was over, disclosed that the service will compel terminal operators to transfer containers to these terminal operators.
According to him, section 36 of the Customs and Excise Management Act CEMA, empowers the service to mandate any port concessionaire operating in any of the Customs Ports across the country to transfer containers to terminal operators to forestall congestion.
The CG who was reacting to complaints by some importers and their agents that most terminal operators prefer to stockpile high heaps of containers at their terminals even when they lack the capacity to handle and deliver them efficiently, which lead to high storage charges and congestion.
He also disclosed that the service has in a recent memo released new guidelines for the transfer of consignments both regular and over time cargoes to bonded terminals and other government warehouses.
“We cannot sit here and allow anyone to stifle our efforts at achieving efficient cargo delivery and so we will not hesitate to invoke the relevant sections of the enabling legislation the CEMA to get things done in a proper and transparent manner, the Customs boss insisted.
It was gathered that the service has issued fresh guidelines on the transfer of cargo to out dock facilities.
Under the new regime, which covers both regular and over time consignment, importers and their agents are allowed to transfer their consignments to port terminals and bonded warehouses of their choice, provided such importer of his agent has complied with the rules and regulations guiding such transfer of cargo.
He disclosed that one of such guidelines is that the importer seeking to transfer his consignment would make an application to that effect to the Customs Area Controller of the command where the consignment is currently stemmed providing the details and reasons for the transfer.
The Controller in charge of the Federal Operations Unit FOU Zone A, Lagos in the case of consignments within the zone would make arrangement for officers, who would escort the cargo in question from the terminal of arrival to the new one where the importer considers more convenient for him to pick from.
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