By Foster Obi
The Management of the Nigerian Ports Authority has ordered the restoration of services to the four shipping Companies whose operations were suspended for their failure to comply with the directive of acquiring and operating holding bays for their containers.
A statement signed by Isah Suwaid, Asst. Gen. Manager (C&SC) said however that the affected shipping companies have now been given two weeks, beginning from Friday July 20th 2018 to comply with four conditions to ensure sustainable relationship.
“Among the conditions are that the affected companies must increase the capacity of their Holding Bays ranging from 1,800 TEUs to 7,500 TEUS; that the affected companies will sign-off on the volume capacity of the Holding Bays verified at the end of the grace period and that at the expiration of the two weeks an inspection will be conducted to ascertain compliance and the Authority warned that thereafter further sanctions will be applied on failure to meet the said conditions.”
It could be recalled that a fortnight ago, shipping services of Maersk line, Cosco Shipping, APS and Lansal were suspended by the NPA for their inability to upgrade their Holding Bays capacities. The suspension was for 10 (ten) days in the first instance.
The two weeks period of grace granted to the four affected shipping companies was sequel to a meeting NPA held with officials of the companies over the weekend.
The decision by the Authority to grant the period of grace was after due consideration of their presentations at the meeting and a subsequent joint inspection on their existing facilities.
The statement said that “A formal letter dated 20th July, 2018 informing the accepted companies of the review of the suspension order signed by the General Manager, Marine & Operations, Mr. Joshua Asanga on behalf of the Managing Director, Hadiza Bala Usman, has since been dispatched.”
