Importers loss over N1 billion goods as containers plunge into Lagos Lagoon
Stakeholder want compensation,improved port operations
By Eniola Idris
Some importers were recently thrown into debts as about six containers laden with various goods were plunged into the lagoon during a barge transportation to the hinterland in Lagos.
The six 40ft containers fully loaded with electronics (new LED TV sets), went down the water in a barge accident, which occurred on March 6, 2021, along KLT/Mile 2 – Maza -maza water channels.
The importers, during a press conference in Lagos lamented the poor operations of the barge system, requesting for compensation from government.
The Secretary General of Ndigboamaka Progressive Traders Association; Hon. Chinedu Ukatu, declared that traders incurred over N1 billion losses in the barge accident, which occurred few days ago.
Ukatu joined other stakeholders in demanding for full compensation for traders, who lost their investments in that ugly accident attributed to negligence on the part of regulatory agencies of government.
He said: “We are not getting benefits of trades in Nigeria due to sharp practices in the port industry. Most worrisome is the fact that people are not made to take responsibility.
“In this case, regulatory agencies must take responsibility for their actions, as the situation leading to the accident is not the fault of cargo owners, who are the shippers.
“The operational arrangement was skewed against the shippers. Lack of effective supervision and monitoring by government agencies is not their fault, as these shippers relied on the leadership to safeguard their investments. Hence, regulatory objectives and administration failed them.
“They have pushed us to the wall and we are losing investments worth billions of naira. Agencies not showing leadership concern must step aside and allow sanity in the system”.
President, Shippers Association Lagos State, Jonathan Nicol, in a separate statement, said the six containers that drifted into the Kirikiri Lighter Terminal should not have been lost in the first place if the facilities at the Apapa Port were functional.
He said there would have been no need to transfer cargo to any terminal, violating the choice of shippers in the contract entered into by the shipping lines, adding that the slow development of our ports is worrisome.
Nicol said: “Some of the barges on our waters were not built to handle containers. Those barges were used for bunkering purposes in those days! So, they do not have facilities to strap containers incase of high tides during local voyages. And apply the balancing process during offloading. These are issues that the regulators should have corrected before licensing.
“Our fear is that this accident may not be the last. How long are we going to pass through uncertainties. This is just one of the many accidents we encounter almost every month.
“Shippers are choked by the prevailing port system, bad roads across the country and can no longer fold hands and watch a continuous loss of investment and hightened extortions in the system.
“Nigeria remains a Federal Republic where rights are protected. Then protect our Rights!
“Compensation has to be paid for the inaction of the Agencies involved,” Nicol stated.
Former President, National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), Dr. Eugene Nweke, said that the accident would have been avoided if there was effective regulation.
The representative of Justice & People Care Foundation (JPF), Kenneth Joshua, called for immediate removal of maritime sector from transport ministry.
His words: “We are calling on the Federal Government as a matter of urgency to create a separate ministry that will focus on maritime and waterways.
“At present, transport ministry does not have time for maritime.
So, we need a separate ministry that will make maritime sector more productive and efficient.”
The stakeholders, who jointly addressed the media included Shippers Association of Lagos; Ndigboamaka Progressive Traders Association; Association of Registered Freight Forwarders of Nigeria (AREEFN); African Professional Freight & Logistics of Nigeria (APFLON); Congregation of Registered Freight Forwarding Practitioners of Nigeria (CREEFPON); Justice & People Care Foundation (JPF), Sea Empowerment and Research Centre.
.
