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The Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC) and Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) yesterday assured that some banks have resume operations in Apapa area of Lagos to facilitate clearance of goods and other essential services.
Banks in Apapa ports had earlier shut down in compliance with President Muhammadu Buhari’s directive that all business in Lagos, Ogun and Abuja should close for 14 days and that there should be total restriction of movement, but opened for services following NSC and CRFFN’s intervention.
Executive Secretary of NSC, Hassan Bello said the council has intervened and assured that the banks will resume operations immediately.
Bello, who spoke during an assessment of the Apapa and Tin-Can Island ports, said, “We have also been talking with the commercial banks. Two branches of Zenith Bank in Apapa have opened immediately to transact the business of assessment of duty and payment of duty and we are talking with other banks and they will do the same.”
However, the CRFFN, in a memo signed by its Registrar, Sam Nwakohu, said, “As you are aware that this is a challenging and complex period and there is a limitation on financial activities being done in the state. This has brought a halt to bank services, as they are no longer operating as usual.
“Nevertheless, Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Shippers’ Council and l have been able to appeal to some commercial banks to open shops in compliance with the presidential directives.”
He said no fewer than 12 branches of United Bank for Africa (UBA), Guarantee Trust Bank, Zenith Bank Plc, First Bank and Access Bank and its environs have opened for operations.
