Mohammed Bello Koko

Decongestion: NPA Boss Insists on ‘Seamless Exit of Cleared Containers’

ksmar August 7, 2022 Business, Headlines Leave a comment 432 Views

By Paul Williams

Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Mohammed Bello Koko, has stressed the need to ensure that containers, already cleared by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), are allowed “seamless exit” from the Onne Port. 

This, he pointed out, is aimed at ensuring smooth operations, as well as preventing the incidence of container-congestion at the Onne port, which he described as a port “of the future, given its boundless potentials.”

Bello Koko, while on a tour of facilities at the Onne port on Friday, noted that such seamless exit for cleared containers will not only help decongest the port, but also promote the ease of doing business there.

Bello Koko, who expressed surprise over trucks trapped within the port premises, said “I have seen almost 20 trucks within the premises and this does not support the ease of doing business, every cleared consignment should not be stopped at the gate.”

The Area Controller of Customs, represented by DC James Garuba, noted that “there is seamless exit for containers that are compliant,” adding that the NCS is not interested in delaying containers, but insists on ensuring that they meet required clearance before they can be granted exit.

Among issues raised at the port stakeholders’ meeting, which the managing director noted will be tackled, include the provision of security at the port.

Responding to the request from Deputy Commissioner of Police Monday Agbonika, representing CP Tami Evelyn Peterside (commissioner of Police, Eastern Ports), for the provision of a patrol boat to enhance their operations, Bello Koko promised that one of the patrol boats presently available would be deployed to the zone.

He said NPA is interested in improving operations and efficiency at the Eastern ports, particularly in a bid to provide an alternative to the congestion at the Lagos ports.

Stakeholders at the parley with the managing director, made up of representatives of terminal operators, ANLCA, freight forwarders, shipping agents and others, commended the manager of Onne Port, Stanley Magaji Yitnoe, for the effective and efficient operations at the port. 

They however called on the managing director to wade into issues affecting vessel turn-around time, the signal station at Bonny, the state of the access road into the port, computer error in the billing system, among others.

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ANLCA, MWUN, Others Threaten Shutdown over Port Roads, E-Call Up at Onne

By Paul Williams   Freight forwarders and truckers at Onne Port in Rivers State have threatened to shut down operations over the poor condition of the port’s access roads and the manner in which the e-call-up system recently introduced by the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) is being implemented.  Six associations operating at the port, along with the Onne Youths Congress, the umbrella body for youths in Onne Community, noted that despite the huge resources accruing from Onne Port, the access roads leading to the port had become a death trap.  The associations on Wednesday, August 12, 2026, issued a four-day ultimatum to the Federal Government and the Nigerian Ports Authority to suspend the e-call-up system until facilities such as loading bays are provided and dilapidated access roads are repaired.  Chairman of ANLCA, Onne Seaport Chapter, Chief Ifeanyi Isikaku, while reading a communique, expressed the associations’ deep concern and frustration over worsening operating conditions for members and the host community.  The unions said NPA rolled out the e-call-up system without first providing adequate holding bays, prompting “the unabated illegal parking of trucks on Onne roads that has choked traffic, damaged goods and exposed workers and residents to danger.”  They also described the port’s internal access roads as “deplorable” and a “death trap,” blaming the road condition for container-fall incidents, injuries and loss of life.  Isikaku said, “We can no longer tolerate unfulfilled NPA commitments and roads that endanger lives and destroy goods. If holding bays had been provided before the e-call-up rollout, this crisis would have been avoided.”  He pointed out that the situation is unfortunate for a port that has contributed up to N487 billion in Customs revenue alone to the federal coffers.  Isikaku said Customs revenue from Onne Port Command between January and July 2026 was approximately N439 billion, with an additional N48 billion from the Oil and Gas Free Zone — a combined N487 billion over seven months.  He called on the Federal Government, through the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, to allocate a portion of that revenue to fix and maintain internal roads and port facilities.  “Onne contributes significantly to national revenue; a fraction of the N487 billion collected between January and July should be used to repair our roads and protect workers and the host community,” he said.  The unions, among other things, demanded an immediate end to illegal parking on Onne roads to restore free traffic flow, urgent maintenance and repair of all internal access roads to prevent container falls and safeguard lives, and a ban on members’ participation in arbitrary or bogus payments associated with the e-call-up system and port transport.  Chairman of the Maritime Union of Nigeria, Eastern Port, Uche Ogbu, whose union bears the brunt of the dilapidated roads, said, “Our members will not be compelled to make arbitrary payments for a system that lacks the infrastructure to work.”  He noted the unions’ resolve on the suspension of the e-call-up system from Monday, August 17, 2026, until adequate holding bays are constructed to accommodate current truck volumes; the suspension will remain in place until all listed challenges are addressed.  …

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