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Group urges Senate to probe cancellation of pre-shipment inspection

By Azimazi Momoh Jimoh (Abuja) and Sulaimon Salau (Lagos)
01 August 2019   |   4:11 am
A Non-Governmental Organisation, Social Integrity Network (SIN), has advised the Senate, to, as a matter of urgency and national importance, set up a committee...

A container-laden vessel

30 vessels expected at Lagos ports, 18 others waiting to berth
A Non-Governmental Organisation, Social Integrity Network (SIN), has advised the Senate, to, as a matter of urgency and national importance, set up a committee to probe the cancellation of the pre-shipment inspection in the country.

The group said that the cancellation, effected by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) during the tenure of Alhaji Dikko Inde as Comptroller-General of Customs, had created room through which dangerous weapons are finding their ways into the country.

The spokesman of the group, Malam Ibrahim Issa, who addressed newsmen in Kaduna, said that if the Federal Government is serious about the fight against insurgency, it has to revisit the matter and reverse the action with immediate effect.

Iss said: “Despite all the money being spent on insurgency operations, the Federal Government is yet to overcome the ugly challenges, which have ravaged many states in the country while many innocent souls have been lost.”

In another development, about 30 vessels are expected to arrive at the Lagos pilotage district with various cargoes, including fish, wheat, sugar and general cargoes, among others.

This is coming on the heels of another nine vessels carrying Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), otherwise known as petrol, and nine others conveying general cargoes, wheat and containers, waiting to berth at the Lagos ports.

The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), which disclosed these in its shipping position yesterday, indicated that the vessels are currently waiting at ENL, ABTL, APMT jetties, while the petroleum-laden ships are at SBM, ACJ, NOJ, and BOP jetties, in Apapa, Lagos.

The 30 other ships that are expected in the Lagos pilotage district would start arriving from today to August 24, 2019.

Also, the Federal Government has begun the audit of the terminals to ensure compliance with the set standards and guarantee efficiency at the nation’s ports.

Executive Secretary, Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), Hassan Bello, who disclosed this at the launching of two mobile harbour cranes by West African Container Terminals (WACT) in Port Harcourt, also called for moderation in costs of shipping.

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