President Muhammadu Buhari has finally doused tension in the minds of port industry stakeholders by ordering that all seaports in Lagos should remain operational in accordance with the guidelines issued earlier as the nation battle to contain the Coronavirus outbreak.
According to Mr. President, who gave the directive during a nationwide broadcast on Sunday, vehicles and drivers conveying essential cargoes from these ports to other parts of the country would be screened thoroughly before departure from the ports by the Ports Health Authority.
Recall that President Buhari had directed on Friday that Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and other governmental agencies in the port, would only allow vessels that have been at sea for more than 14 days to berth in Nigerian ports.
He said such vessel can only be allowed if the crew have been tested and confirmed disease-free by the Port Health Authorities.
Mr. President stated that the 14-days restriction on vessels does not apply to vessels carrying oil and gas products, which according to him, has minimal human contact.
Reacting, Jonathan Nicol, president of Shippers Association of Lagos State, who commended NPA’s proactive efforts since Coronavirus outbreak, said the two weeks partial lock-down would help to decongest the ports and eliminate the protracted Apapa traffic jam, if massive evacuation of empty containers is carried out.
“We hope the Apapa traffic would disappear after the two weeks lock-down. Government Agencies should assist the Nigerian Ports Authority to achieve this objective. The Port Health and the Federal Ministry of Transportation should synergies to curtail the dreaded Coronavirus within port complexes,” he added.
