Customs CG Blasts APM Terminal

• Says Firm Lied About Fixing Terminal In Apapa To World Standard

 

The Nigeria Customs Service has said that port concessionaire; APM Terminal had been peddling falsehood to its parent body; Maersk Line, about its level of efficiency in the port and about its operations at the Apapa port.

Comptroller General of Customs, Alhaji Dikko Inde Abdullahi leveled the allegation yesterday during a meeting with stakeholders at the Apapa port.

Dikko stated that he was moved to anger when he visited the headquarters of the APMT in the Netherlands last month and realized that the company in Apapa had sent video clips showing how it had purportedly developed the terminal to world standard.

But narrating his encounter, Dikko said that he disagreed sharply and that the APMT headquarters in Netherlands had decided to visit the Apapa port soon to ascertain the true picture of port development that has been done by APMT.

"They made a mistake of inviting me to their headquarters last month and a video clip was shown to us on how they have transformed the APMT, honestly I could not hide my anger, I told them it is a lie, that you people are here in Netherlands and you are being deceived that all is well in Nigeria”, he told the gathering of stakeholders.

"They promised to come back to Nigeria and ensure that they transform the APMT terminal to the international standard it was in the Netherlands because this is where they are making money" he said.

The Customs boss, who apparently is still basking in the euphoria of Customs taking over destination inspection functions from the service providers, stated that the next battle is against concessionaires and the shipping companies.

He called for stakeholders’ support in ensuring that indigenous terminals are encouraged to carry out terminal operations at the port.

Dikko declared that, "having fought the service providers, it is time to fight concessionaires and shipping companies"

"We should not allow people come into Nigeria with a briefcase and go back with a bus full of our money’, he lashed out.

In apparent reference to the standard obtainable at the Port and Cargo Handling Services terminal at Tin Can port, Dikko declared: Dr. Afolabi is here at Tin Can Island Port and he has done so well, is he not a Nigerian? Why not Nigeria taking over other activities of modern terminal operation, why must we allow people who are not knowledgeable than Nigerians to come and take away our money".

"None of them have houses in Nigeria, none of their children school in Nigeria, so why do we allow them", he asked.

Dikko called on stakeholders to close ranks to ensure that they fight the war collectively against arbitrary charges and other wrong vices allegedly being perpetrated by the terminal operators.

"We cannot fight them individually, but we can fight them collectively, and it is only when we have the vision and the mission, the way we fought the service providers and chase them out is the same way we are going to chase everybody that is not working to our taste" he vowed.

Also speaking at the stakeholders meeting, founder of NAGAFF; Dr. Boniface Aniebonam and the National President of ANLCA, Prince Olayiwola Shittu, both called on stakeholders to ensure that the new PAAR regime introduced by the customs is made to work.

Also, in addition to the Trade Hub Centre that was donated to Balogun Traders at the Trade Fair Complex yesterday, the Custom Area Controller of Apapa Port; Mr. Charles Edike announced that the same facility has been created at the Apapa Customs office.
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