In a move aimed at easing congestion and improving vessel turnaround times, Five Star Logistics Terminal is relocating 1,200 imported vehicles from Tin Can Island Port to bonded terminals across Lagos.

The Tincan terminal will move 600 vehicles to Classic Bonded Terminal and another 600 to Clarion Bonded Terminal. The operation will begin with two vessels: MV Silver Ray (Voyage 25SR12) and MV Lake Wanaka (Voyage 25LW04). This initiative is designed to free up space at Tin Can Island Port in anticipation of four incoming vessels carrying additional vehicles.

Why the Movement
Officials say the relocation is a proactive step to reduce vessel waiting times and prevent congestion as new ships arrive. Agents and cargo owners are urged to verify the correct terminal for their vehicles before completing customs documentation.

What Agents and Buyers Should Know
Cargo owners and agents may need to adjust logistics plans accordingly. The terminal requests step-down letters from agents who wish to pick up vehicles from Five Star Terminal ahead of vessel arrivals. While some experts note that Tin Can Island Port is not currently congested, the move is considered a precaution to accommodate the upcoming influx of ships.

In media briefings about Tin Can Island Port, Comptroller Onyeka has highlighted the importance of streamlining processes and improving efficiency at the port, praising reforms and technology that help reduce bottlenecks and improve trade facilitation.

He has also stressed the role of compliance, stakeholder collaboration and organised procedures — such as eliminating unnecessary alerts at the port — to make customs operations more predictable and efficient.

Reacting to the development, a frontline licensed customs agent, Hon Remilekun Sikiru, said there is no congestion at Tin Can Port at the moment, but that the terminal operator was only being proactive.

According to him, ideally, before Terminal operators transfer vehicles to Bonded terminals, it has to be at the request of the cargo owner, but now, the Terminal wants to roll out these vehicles to free up the Terminal for the incoming four vessels loaded with vehicles.