NEWS
Port Congestion Looms as 8,000 Vehicles Arrive Amid Strike
By Joseph Amah, Abuja
Following the withdrawal of services by freight forwarders and clearing agents at both the Ports & Terminal Multipurpose Limited, and the Tin-Can Island ports in Lagos, the terminals may become congested as more ships berth in the coming days. According to findings by our correspondent, about four ships carrying over 8,000 vehicles will berth at the two ports between Wednesday and Monday.
This came as port officials said the terminals were already battling capacity issues, noting that over 4,000 vehicle slots meant to have become vacant were still being occupied by vehicles.According to shipping position data, four vessels, Paglia, Grande Sierra Leone, Grande Cotonou, and Grande Cameroon, will be coming with the Grimaldi shipping line to berth at the PTML between February 24th and 28th.
Each of the vessels is estimated to come with at least, 2000 vehicles. Speaking on the effects of the withdrawal of services by the clearing agents, the Terminal Manager of PTML, Tunde Keshinro, said the terminal was battling to create vehicle slots for incoming ships.According to him, the terminal has lost between 4,000 and 5,000 units of vehicle capacity since the strike started. He said, “Of course, the terminal is getting congested now because we have ships that are coming but won’t have space to discharge the vehicles. That means the ships would be waiting outside and they won’t be able to call at the port to discharge, and that will affect our international schedule. If vehicles that are already in the car parks are not being delivered, how do you get space for the new arrivals? That means the new arrivals will not have space to park, so we won’t have space to discharge the ship. We have lost about four days now, and on average, we will be talking about 4,000 to 5,000 units of capacity that have been lost since last week Thursday. The job has not really been going on as expected so that is a lot of loss in capacity.” He noted that the clearing agents had begun a protest since Thursday, adding the development had also marred activities at the terminal. “We have our daily delivery capacity and since we have not been working to full capacity, our delivery capacity has been affected. Once delivery is not done to the expected level, it will lead to terminal congestion. Operators won’t be able to receive new arrivals. I can’t estimate the monetary value but I know it is a whole lot of money. This is not limited to the terminal alone, even the importers that are not able to have these vehicles on their car stands are affected. They are not able to meet their deadlines.”
On granting of a waiver on demurrage for cars in the terminal during the period of the current protest, he said, “For us, we are still studying the situation, so there is no firm decision taken yet. The issue is basically about the protest against Customs valuation implementation; so it has nothing to do with the terminal.”
Also speaking, the Customer Care Manager, Five Star Logistics Terminal, Tin-Can Island port, Chuks Okereafor, said that the terminal was almost filled up as well. He, however, noted that the terminal is not expecting any ship until the first week of March, 2022.Okereafor said, “I will say that we are almost two-thirds filled up. No vessel is waiting to berth in our terminal, they have all gone, the container ship belonging to MLC comes like two or three times a month, we just finished the last one and the vessel is gone. We are expecting RCC from the USA with over 2,000 vehicles; the ship is coming on March 2, 2022. Already, we have a container ship that has berthed; MLC Mila has already taken berth. The next Roll-On-Roll-Off is coming on March 2, and we other ships coming on March 7th and 10th.”“The only thing is that we are not expecting any RORO until the first week of March. It is not as a result of the strike, it is already pre-planned. Most of our vehicles coming with RORO are supposed to be from March-the ones coming from Europe and America. So we are a bit lucky that we are not expecting any vessel.” According to the Five Star manager, several vehicles have just arrived at the terminal. “We are having a lot of vehicles at the terminal already, especially the new ones meant to be delivered within this week. But I don’t think they (agents) can take delivery if the strike continues” he said. He, however, said the terminal was planning to grant a waiver to importers on delayed vehicles. He said, “Definitely, we are going to grant a waiver and that is a very big loss to the company. We have sympathy for our customers because they have been with us, the management will always do something. We know the situation when it comes to trade. If there is no buyer there won’t be any seller. The cargoes are already in Nigeria, so the company will definitely do something about the waiver at the right time. The strike has a little bit affected delivery. When you don’t make delivery, there are losses. If you are supposed to deliver, for instance, 200 vehicles, and you can’t do that, it is a loss. When workers are paid without working, it is also a loss.”
The Speaker of Delta House of Assembly, Mr Dennis Guwor has urged Christians to imbibe the true spirit of Christmas celebration.
Guwor, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Nkem Nwaeke, on Wednesday in Asaba, reminded Christians that love, kindness and generosity remained the key elements of the Christmas celebration.
He reiterated the need for people to continue to support one another, uplift those in need, and strive for a more united and prosperous state .
Guwor, who is also the National Treasurer, Conference of Speakers of State Houses of Assembly in Nigeria, said he was proud of the progress that Delta had made as a state.
”I look forward to the dawn of a new year with great hopes and more positive vibes in Delta.
“I pray that this festive season brings to the state and its people peace, love, and happiness, ” he said.
According to him, we have worked tirelessly to build a brighter future for our state, and I am confident that our collective efforts will continue to yield positive results.
Guwor expressed confidence that the ‘MORE Agenda’ of Gov. Sheriff Oborevwori would continue to impact positively in the life of the people of the state..(NAN)
By Laide Akinboade, Abuja
Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), had urged Nigerians to use this Christmas celebration to continue to up to Jesus for hope for a better Nigeria
This was contained in a statement issued by CAN , signed by Archbishop Daniel Okoh
President, CAN, and made available to journalists in Abuja.
The Archbishop extends his warm Christmas greetings to all Nigerians.
The statement reads, “Christmas is a time of joy and togetherness, celebrating God’s greatest gift to mankind, Jesus Christ, our Saviour and the Light of the World. As we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, we are called to reflect on His values and teachings, which provide hope, peace, and guidance, especially during challenging times.
“This Christmas comes with a mix of joy and sorrow for many Nigerians. The recent stampedes at charity events in Abuja and Anambra, where innocent lives were lost, have left us grieving as a nation. These heartbreaking incidents highlight the growing desperation among our people and the erosion of societal values such as patience, orderliness, and respect for one another. For those grieving or injured, I urge you to find strength in the love of Jesus Christ, whose birth we celebrate. He is the source of our comfort and peace in times of sorrow and our guide to a brighter future.
“The philanthropists involved in these events have, for many years, brought relief and joy to the less privileged during Christmas. Their intentions were noble, and their generosity is commendable and should not be discouraged in any way. However, this year’s tragedies remind us that as a society, we must revisit the values that bind us together. Nigerians must learn to embody Christlike virtues, such as patience, empathy, discipline, and dignity, particularly in times of collective need. It is only by returning to these values that we can prevent such unfortunate occurrences in the future.
“These incidents also highlight the urgent need for our government to prioritise food security. The desperation we witnessed reflects the harsh realities many Nigerians face daily. Jesus Christ, during His ministry, not only fed multitudes with compassion but also called for fairness and justice in meeting the needs of others. Our leaders must remain resolute in the fight against hunger and take decisive steps to ensure that no Nigerian is left hungry or in need. Strengthening the agricultural sector, reducing food prices, and addressing inequality must be at the forefront of governance.
“As we commemorate the birth of Christ, let this Christmas inspire us to be agents of change in our society. Citizens must commit to fostering peace and orderliness in their communities. Leaders must act with compassion and wisdom to create a nation where every individual’s basic needs are met. And as individuals, let us strive to live out the teachings of Jesus by showing love, patience, and care to those around us.
“May this Christmas remind us that Jesus Christ is the foundation of hope and order, and may His light guide us in building a united and prosperous Nigeria. Together, as we look to Him, we can overcome our challenges and usher in a brighter future for all.
“May the joy, peace, and hope of Christmas fill your hearts and homes. Merry Christmas!”.
The Directorate of Road Transport Services (DRTS) in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has warned motorists against speeding.
DRTS Director, Abdulateef Bello, gave the warning in an interview on Wednesday in Abuja.
He spoke against the backdrop of the ongoing road construction projects in the territory.
According to the DRTS boss, road accidents associated with speeding, drunkenness and other vices are common during the Yuletide.
He noted that the Christmas and New Year holidays had often led to influx of visitors from other states.
Bello warned that it was important for such persons to drive with extreme caution as they might not be familiar with the FCT.
“There are no excuses for driving with expired drivers licence or none at all, overloading and use of rickety vehicles that could be harmful to passengers,” he said.
Bello added that operatives of the directorate had commenced road surveillance within the territory to ensure safety compliance by motorists.(NAN)
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