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The Managing Director Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) Ms Hadiza Bala-Us man, said on Monday that NPA is going to adopt stricter licensing procedure for barge operations in the nation’s blue sea, as an away of stemming the inherent abuse the sector has been subjected to by maritime stakeholders.
Speaking to journalists in a virtual meeting revealed that from Thursday, February 27, 2021, any stray truck found on Apapa road, would be impounded also the Electronic Truck Call-up system introduce by NPA, would kick-off.
Bala also observed that barge operation was intended to ameliorate the hardship on the Apapa gridlock.
She added that eight truck parks had been approved as parking lots for truckers doing business in all the ports in Lagos.
Bala asserted that the Authority would come hard on shipping companies failing to provide holding bays for their empty containers, at least 65 per cent of their annual take.
She added that importers and their agents would be qualified for the refund of container deposits made whenever empty boxes had made their way to such holding bays.
The MD NPA expressed her mind on improved shipping in the country with the expected delivery on approved deep seaports in different locations, citing, Onne, Lekki in Lagos, Ibom in Akwa Ibom, as examples She finally spoke on the Port Harcourt port, that its quays had attained the end of their life span.
Usman, however, did not say anything about what becomes of the fate of the facility in Port Harcourt.