APMT explains current state of Customs’ physical examination site

Andrew Dawes, managing director, APM Terminals Apapa Limited, said in Lagos on Friday that the present condition of the physical examination site at the terminal is temporary as a new physical examination facility is being built and will be ready by the second quarter of next year.

Dawes said that the physical examination site built earlier and handed over to the then port manager of Lagos Port Complex, Apapa, Joshua Asanga, in 2010, could not be used by Customs at the time due to process variance.

He said a new physical examination facility is already being built for Customs use and will be ready by the second quarter of 2014.

According to him, the present physical examination site was not originally designed for that purpose but had to be used temporarily to ensure that the process of examination at the terminal is not stalled.

“The investment we are making at the terminal is not only on civil works and equipment, we are also investing to ensure the safety of everyone that comes here to transact their business,” Dawes stated.

He further assured that APM Terminals will continue to improve on its services to its customers, saying that areas of complaints were being addressed.

The APMT boss also stated that there is sufficient equipment at the terminal for cargo handling and that more cranes are billed to arrive in the first week of September.