Agents, Importers lament server breakdown at Lagos ports

PROLONGED failure of computer servers at the Lagos Ports Complex (LPC) has left importers, agents and shipping agencies unable to track their cargoes as shipping position, the document profiling the arrival of vessels and their content, is no longer made available.

The document which is usually published on the website of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has left clearing agents in a quandary as they are now left to second guess the arrival of their consignments.

The computer server at LPC, the biggest and busiest port in the country, it was gathered, broke down over two months with the port’s management inexplicably failing to fix it.

The online services hitherto provided at the port had enabled importers to conveniently access the port only when their consignment had arrived thereby reducing the pressure on the access roads that have been in the nightmarish state.

“It is amazing that in this 21st century, a seaport of this caliber in a commercial city can be down for so long.

“So much money, I am aware, has been invested in trying to make shipping services online and now this has been going on for over two months. I do not think somebody appreciates the cost of the man-hours lost when importers regularly gather at the port just to ascertain the status of their goods,” clearing agents lamented to newsmen on Tuesday.

When contacted, the Spokesman of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Abdullahi Goje said he was at a function in Port Harcourt, but promised to get back to our Correspondent later in the day. However, as at the time of filing in this report, he was yet to get back to Tribune Online.