All trucks taking cargo to/from the Port of Tin Can Island, with the exception of tanker trucks, must now book an arrival slot on the system, which provides them with access codes to pass through the port gates.

The electronic system was introduced to spread truck arrivals across the day and to prevent congestion in the afternoon, which traditionally sees the most traffic. It is also designed to speed up the previous manual system of cargo processing.

In addition, in an effort to keep traffic flowing, vehicles that break down on the access road are towed away, with hauliers required to pay a fee for the service. Some organisations, including the National Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents, welcomed the introduction of the electronic call-up system, but congestion remains a significant problem.

Following investigations by several of Nigeria’s leading newspapers, a government committee has heard evidence that illegal payment points had been set up on the access road to the ports by local youths and members of official organisations, such as the police and navy. One report suggested that there were up to 30 illegal checkpoints around Tin Can Island and the Port of Apapa. Some drivers are able to access the port without access codes by paying bribes, while some drivers with codes have been forced to pay illegal fees. The committee has promised to fast track the prosecution of any offenders.

At the same time, the Nigerian Ports Authority has complained that over 5,000 containers are currently overdue for collection at the nation’s ports, partly because of policies introduced by the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Nigeria Customs Service. New checks have been imposed on cargo as part of the government’s import substitution policy, which is designed to encourage domestic production of specific goods and commodities. 

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This complete item is approximately 330 words in length, and appeared in the September 2021 issue of WorldCargo News, on page 4. To access this issue download the PDF here