N100m lost to Tin-can fire, clearing agents claim

Clearing agents operating at the container complex of Tin-can Island port in Lagos lost over a N100 million to the fire incident that razed down part of the complex yesterday, even as some agents are pointing accusing fingers at the Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA and a popular terminal operators as being behind the fire outbreak.

Speaking with Vanguard on the incident, Chairman of the Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents, ANLCA, Port and Terminal Multi-purpose Limited, PTML, chapter, Akintola Hastrop, said that the value of the properties lost to the outbreak was far over N100 million.

Hastrop further disclosed that the lose was much because most agents were still on holidays and therefore could not rescue their belongings.

However, Chairman of the Complex and National President of Freight Forwarders Elders Forum, FFEF, Chukwuemeka Shedrack, told Vanguard that only five of the 91 containerised offices were affected by the fire outbreak.

Shedrick explained that the amount of the properties including the buildings destroyed by the fire was about N105 million but that properties belonging to the agents lost to the fire was about N1.5 million.

He listed some of the items lost to the outbreak as office equipment, their client documents, physical cash, some of their licenses etc. He further noted that the outbreak was definitely an act of saboutage by persons who want them out of the premises.

The FFEF boss wondered how there could be fire outbreak at both the popular NPA building know as 'national' around Tin Can Island Port second gate which affected several offices including that if Barrister Ada Akpunonu, a former vice chairman of ANLCA at Tin Can and the container complex which belong to the Seaview Properties Limited, both a subsidiary of the Nigerian Port Authority, NPA.

Recall that the NPA had given occupants of the PTML container complex an eviction notice in 2016. The occupants alleged that it was an attempt by NPA to concession the complex to a popular port concessionare and as a result they had gone to court last year to challenge the quit order by the NPA.

On the allegation on involvement of the NPA in the fire incident, a source was spoke on the condition of anonymity, said it is not true. The source explained that if NPA wants the agents out, all they needed to do was to follow due process to get them out.

However, NPA has sympathised with those affected in the unfortunate fire incident which occurred at the Tin Can Island Port Complex, TCIPC, Apapa.
The Authority in a statement signed by the Assistant General Manager, Corporate & Strategic
Communications, Isah Suwaid, reiterated its firm resolve at ensuring that safety and security of lives and property at the nation’s seaports are key priorities in its operations across board.
The authority enjoined stakeholders, operators and port users to imbibe the tenets of safety and
security dictates as required by the International Maritime Organisation, IMO, and other International agencies in their operations.
According to the statement, all and sundry were assured of a safe, secure and customer friendly
environment for the ease of doing business at the nation’s seaports.
The Authority further charged stakeholders to continue their operations and activities without fear and be vigilant at all times, adding that all necessary machineries have been deployed by the
management to contain and subsequently stem further re-occurrence.