Shippers Council Mgt Team Visits Five Star, Wants Terminal to Remain Open
Bello and Wolfgang Schneider during the meeting
*Coy assures of operating during holidays
The Executive Secretary, Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC), Mr Hassan Bello, has called on the management of Five Star Logistics to ensure that the terminal remains open for business during this period of holiday and coronavirus pandemic.
Bello made the call during a visit to the company where he stressed the directive of President Muhammadu Buhari in his nationwide address of 29th March 2020 directing that the ports/terminals remain operational.
The NSC CEO who led other management team to Five Star office, according to a press statement by the Deputy Director of the ports economic regulator, Mrs Rekiya Zubairo pointed out that, Nigeria, like other countries, cannot afford to close down ports.
He added that this was to allow cargo flow, particularly pharmaceutical products, industrial raw materials and hospital equipment amongst others.
The ES/CEO commended the terminal for the compliance measures put in place to prevent the spread of Covid-19.
He noted the provision of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for the use of everyone on the premises as the terminal remained operational during the lockdown, adding that the Council has been working tirelessly to ensure that port operations and seamless movement of cargo delivery was achieved.
The FSL Management represented by the General Manager, Mr. Wolfgang Schneider, informed the Shippers’ Council management that only essential staff come to work.
He further stated that, terminal has over 5000-6000 vehicles ready for delivery during the Easter Public holiday. He highlighted various challenges most important of which he said is limited space for storage.
He also appealed to NSC to intervene in the matter of barge operations by ensuring that they continue.
Following the visit, Bello had contacted the Nigerian Customs Service, Terminal Operators, CRFFN and the Presidential Task Team on restoration of order on Apapa roads to collaborate over the Easter weekend to enable freight forwarders take delivery of cargo.
He said that what this meant was that the terminals will be open to any freight forwarder who has completed his/her paperwork to remove their cargoes from the ports as the terminals and officers of the Nigerian Customs Service will be on ground working to facilitate movement of cargoes out of the ports from April 10 to April 13.
This is to reduce congestion on the seaside and the terminals.
He urged freight forwarders to take advantage of this opening.
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