Lagos port

John Iwori

Following the rising number of complaints by port users on the operation of the nation’s seaports, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has said it would soon set up a help desk to address the complaints of stakeholders.

The authority said the help desk would be created in the Port Managers’ offices to collate complaints emanating from all stakeholders including members of Sea Port Terminal Operators of Nigeria (STOAN), Association of National Licenced Custom Agents (ANLCA) and National association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), for onward transmission of the office of the Executive Director, Marine and Operations.

This was stated by NPA Executive Director, Marine and Operations, Mr. David Omonibeke at a stakeholders meeting at Western Ports Headquarters, Apapa, Lagos.

Omonibeke asserted that the NPA management would facilitate the setting up of a committee to look into the recent increase on storage charges by terminal operators in order to meet up with International best practices, within the shortest time possible.

President of STOAN, Mrs. Victoria Haastrup, in her remarks at the occasion promised that the association would do everything within its powers to ensure increase in efficiency through improved service delivery at the ports.

The Chairman of ANLCA, Alhaji Olayiwola Shittu, who hailed the proposed committee, suggested that the management of NPA and the stakeholders should meet more regularly to enhance the synergy already existing amongst stakeholders.

Present at the meeting were NPA’s General Manager, Captain Iheanacho Ebubeogu, Port Manager, Lagos Port Complex (LPC), Mr. Joshua Asanga, and the Port Manager, Tin Can Island Port Complex (TCIP), Apapa, Mr. Efioita Ephraim.

Also present were the President of NAGAFF, Mr. Eugene Nweke, and the President of Amalgamated Association of Transport Owners (AMATO), Chief Remi Ogungbemi.