Vessel congestion at Lagos anchorage and traffic congestion on the port access roads will worsen in the next few weeks as the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), ban the evacuation of cargoes out of the Lagos seaports with barges, NATIONAL ECONOMY learnt.

Since the Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA) introduced the operation of barges for the evacuation of cargoes, there have been temporary relief from traffic on the port access roads and reduction in the number of days spent by stranded vessels at Anchorage.

However, maritime stakeholders and experts have attributed the reduction in the traffic and easing of congestion at anchorage at the movement of cargoes out of the seaports by barges.

Chairman Nigerian Ports Consultative Council (NPCC), Otunba Kunle Folarin said the introduction of barges is an ingenious way of solving the Apapa traffic gridlock.

However, the success recorded is to be short lived as the Customs service last week stopped the evacuation of cargoes out of the seaports by barges.

In a circular signed by the Deputy Comptroller General, Enforcement, Inspection and Investigation, DCG A. Chidi, the NCS lamented that some importers and agents were taking advantage of barge evacuation to divert containers to illegal warehouses.

The circular with number NCF/ENF/ABJ/058/S.23 dated 12th of March 2020 has been transmitted to all area commands, all heads of unit, sector drill commanders, federal operations units and the CGC strike force for immediate action.

The circular reads in part “The CGC is in receipt of intelligence that the use of barges to evacuate containers in and out of our ports is being abused to the extent that containers are being diverted to illegal warehouses.

“Consequently, I am directed to inform you that the use of barges to evacuate containers should stop with immediate effect.”

A clearing agent who reacted early to the circular alleged that the Customs was stopping the use of barges for transfer of containers because it has reduced corruption.