Still unsettled about the gridlock affecting the ports in Apapa, Lagos, the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has set up a committee to review issues concerning the perennial lock jam. This was revealed recently to Punch newspaper by NPA’s General Manager, Corporate and Strategic Communications, Jatto Adams.
This is coming on the heels of reports that Nigerian Shippers Council is considering a-30 per cent waiver on lease and container throughput fees to terminal operators in order to cushion the effect of the Apapa traffic.
Executive Secretary, Nigerian Shippers Council, Hassan Bello, had said “We are also talking with NPA to relax and make the charges and give 30 per cent waiver of certain charges within the period contemplated. This is a temporary measure, but this is what I call general average sacrifice in order to save the situation. When a ship is about to capsize, we have a general average situation where the heavy cargoes are jettisoned and thrown overboard in order for the ship to survive.
“This is what we have been doing, everybody is coming along. Why the usual taskforce failed at that time was because there was no coming together of minds. It was just touching of one thing. Meanwhile, the problem of the port is a hydra-headed monster, when you cut one, another three will spring up.”
However, Adams, however, said a decision had not been taken concerning a-30 per cent waiver on the agency’s lease.
“I am not aware of this 30 per cent waiver on our lease, but talks are ongoing and a committee is in place to look at contending issues. So, until the report of the committee is made available to the management for an informed decision, no waiver has been granted,” he said.

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