The Management of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has ordered the restoration of the services of four shipping companies suspended for not acquiring holding bays for their containers.
The spokesman for NPA, Malam Isa Suwaid, said this on Monday in Lagos.
He recalled that the suspension order was signed by the General Manager, Marine and Operations, Joshua Asanga, on behalf of the Managing Director of NPA, Ms Hadiza Usman.
According to him, the affected shipping companies have now been given two weeks, beginning from Friday July 20, to comply with four conditions to ensure sustainable relationship.
Suwaid said among the conditions were that the affected companies should increase the capacity of their holding bays from 1,800 TEUs (containers) to 7,500 TEUS.
“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.
“Thereafter, further sanctions will be applied for 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,” Suwaid said in a statement.
According to him, the suspension was for 10 days in the first instance.
He explained that the two-week period of grace granted to the four affected shipping companies was sequel to a meeting the authority held with officials of the companies over the weekend.
“The decision by the NPA to grant the period of grace was after due consideration of their presentations at the meeting and a subsequent joint inspection of their existing facilities,” Suwaid said.