APM Terminals wants importers to use fast track clearance

In order to reduce scanning delays at the terminal, APM Terminals Apapa Limited, one of the terminal operators in Nigerian port, has advised its customers to re-route their containers for physical examination to fast track cargo clearance.

Importers experience delays at the scanning site because only one of the two scanners at the port is currently in operation.

Neil Fletcher, chief commercial officer, APM Terminals Apapa Limited, said this in a public notice sent to the customers.

“Please note that we are experiencing a sharp increase in the number of containers targeted for scanning and this is hindering our capacity to maintain the booking and scanning of containers within 24 hours as it exceeds the 200 units daily agreed to,” he said.

“The Customs Area Controller (CAC) had agreed to route the Bills of Lading with multiple containers to physical examination so that the homogeneous goods policy can apply to reduce the traffic at the scanning site,” Fletcher added, informing that one of the two scanners used at the terminal was not available at the moment due to ongoing maintenance.

He urged importers and agents to apply to Customs for re-routing containers that fall in this category, adding that the CAC had made provision for importers to apply for fast track facility based on the volume.

“If you are a beneficiary of the fast track facility but it only covers imported raw materials, you can also apply to the Customs through the CAC for the facility to cover all cargo,” he said.

“Do note that APMT has no intention of taking advantage of this situation and will refund any terminal charges on containers not scanned within 48 hours from date of booking,” he said, while assuring that APMT would continue to partner with relevant stakeholders in order to bring back normalcy to the scanning operations.