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By Steve Agbota, [email protected]
Corruption and unbridled extortion have become the two most intractable challenges facing maritime stakeholders especially truck owners, drivers and port users along the nation’s port access corridors.
This is even as shippers, clearing agents and truck owners expressed concerns over worsening gridlock along the port access road especially between Mile 2 and the Tin Can Island Port Complex (TCIPC), as they accused officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Agency (LASTMA), Security Department and Police who were deployed by Lagos State Government to manage traffic in the area of massive extortion.
They alleged that these security agents are conniving with other maritime bandits to wreck havoc around the port corridors.
However, due to extortion, which largely caused traffic logjam along the port access roads are usually responsible for Nigerian export integrity failure in abroad as result of long delay and overstayed on the port access roads.
The clogging along the port access road also is adding huge cost to doing of business at the two Lagos Ports.
Daily Sun learnt that more than 70 per cent of foods exported from Nigeria are rejected abroad, which is causing huge financial losses to the exporters and the country at large.
The rejection of the export produce was associated with long delay on the port access roads. For instance, a container of export produce stays more than three weeks or more before getting into the port for shipping. This is one of the factors why the Nigerian export failed integrity test when it finally arrived Europe.
A truck driver, Tajudeen Salami who spoke with Daily Sun on Sunday evening along the Tin Can Port access road, said the extortion of a thing on the port access road is killing haulage business in the country, saying security agents and other maritime bandits are milking truckers. He said now that government prosecuting these security agents especially LASTMA, they are now putting touts on the road to extort truckers and share the money collected from truckers at the end of the day.
“They are the one causing the traffic. They cause the traffic in order to collect money from us. I’m carrying sesame seed for export and I have been on the road for the past 6 days and I have more than N80,000. I have to pay at each extortion point. Some collect N1000, N2000 and N5000 even sometimes more. If you don’t pay, the touts will start beating you and damage your truck.
“Now, If you want to come to Tin Can Port, you will spend nothing less than N70,000 to N80,000 before you can in your truck. And if you want to bring in your truck to Apapa, you will not spend less than N100,000. The extortion along the Port corridor is magnanimous and unimaginable, the extortion is adding to the cost of doing business around the nation’s Port,” he said.
Another trucker driver, John Ideh, said that export produce stays more than necessary on the port access road because of the extortion that virtually lead to traffic logjams.
“You spend less than N100, 000 to bring in your container into the Port because of extortion. This money is unreciepted. You see different checkpoints at Mile 2, Sunrise and Coconut. You will see another checkpoint at Abuja; we called a place Abuja around Tin Can Island Port, which is a park.
“Now, when you are coming from Western Avenue, you see another set of extortion point as you are descending that Alaka Bridge at Ijora. You see another one on Marine Bridge, another one at area B, and another one at Eleganza before you going into the Port. No nation can continue like this and succeed.
“Imagine when you are bringing in your export, that is when you see containers staying numbers of days on the road. And before the thing gets to the Port; loaded into the vessel, getting to the port of destination, you found out that the exports must have lost most of their integrity. That is why some of them failed integrity test when they get to their point of destination. Everybody is aware but nobody is doing anything about it,” he added.
Speaking with Daily Sun, the former acting President of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Dr. Kayode Farinto said there is need for Federal Government to delineate port areas.
“Where does Port area start from? Coming through Mile 2, the port should start from Mile 2 and that means there should be another security checks (automation). This is era of drone. Security agencies need to be empowered.
“Port area is not a place where one will be roaming about. Our port area is so dirty, crowded, rowdy, and many other things. That is why I’m saying if government can create an office called SA to the President on maritime affairs. These are the things will take directly to the President irrespective of any ministry,” he said.
According to him, that person will be a bridge builder between the stakeholders and the Government, adding that the government will be felt at the grassroots level.
However, he called on the Federal Government to tackle the barriers militating against export to strengthen the Naira.
Farinto said that there is need for establishment of cargo rail to aid speedy movement of export goods from other part of the country to the destination port, saying effective cargo rail for export will strengthen the Naira and enhance balance of trade.
“I myself I have delved into export. Aside the fact that it is capital intensive, the delay on export it is not encouraging. Nobody wants to fix his money for another 90 days that will be no result. I want to go into Sobo exportation now and I went to get my Sobo from Kano. Before other consignments or the loaded containers move from Kano to Lagos, it takes two months.
“If I’m on bank loan, what happens? These are things government needs to do and that is why our rail system must be functional now to complement the road if we must succeed in the area of export. The cargo rail must begin to function that is when it can meet up.
If I have a rail line, I load my container on rail by the next three days is already in the port and I won’t have a situation. But when you waybill on road, the road is blocked, the stoppages and every state have a way of collecting taxes on consignments that are bringing in to the port, which is not too good for us. That is why if you must earn money on our export, government must be thinking towards this line; let us have a very new rail,” he added.
He said Federal Government must bring in new rails that are supersonic and let it be cargo rail that will be dedicated for the movement of export cargo in the country.
Meanwhile, the National President of the Council of Maritime Truck Unions and Associations, COMTUA, Mr. Adeyinka Aroyewun in an open letter to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu called for urgent request for state of emergency declaration on port access road.
“I would like to highlight the dire situation that has been prevailing on the Port Access road, causing significant disruptions to the movement of goods and services. The current state of affairs is hindering the operations of businesses, exacerbating the cost of doing business, and impeding the progress of our national economy.
“It is disheartening to note that truck drivers are experiencing an unprecedented delay in accessing the port, with a turnaround time of up to three weeks. This delay is unjustifiable and has severe consequences for both importers and exporters, resulting in financial losses and a decline in productivity.
“To compound matters, it has come to our attention that certain individuals or entities are being given preferential treatment, allowing them to bypass the system and move their cargo with minimal delays, while others suffer inordinate delays,” he said.
He added that the blatant disregard for fairness and transparency in the distribution of resources and opportunities has created an environment of frustration and a sense of inequality among stakeholders in the port logistics chain.
According to him, it is imperative that immediate action is taken to rectify this situation and restore confidence in the system.
“Therefore, I humbly request your excellency’s urgent intervention by declaring a state of emergency on the Port access road. This decision would empower relevant authorities to take swift and decisive measures to address the systemic failures and bring about tangible improvements.
“The declaration of a state of emergency will enable the deployment of additional resources, the implementation of stricter oversight, and the establishment of a task force comprising experts from various relevant sectors to resolve the issues at hand,” he said.
Furthermore, he implored Tinubu to ensure a comprehensive review of the electronic call-up system implemented by the Nigerian Ports Authority, adding that the review should aim to identify the root causes of its failure and explore alternative solutions to enhance its efficiency and effectiveness.
“The success of our nation depends on the prosperity and smooth functioning of our ports and transportation systems. By addressing this urgent issue, you will not only alleviate the suffering of countless businesses and individuals but also demonstrate your commitment to good governance, fairness, and the welfare of our citizens,” he said.
