Clearing agents, importers protest over customs extortion … as customs re-assures of transparency

Tayo Oladipupo |

Customs agents and importers operating in Clarion bonded terminal took to the streets of Lagos in protest of an allegation of extortion against customs officers.

The protesters, today, after obstructing activities in the terminal, sent staff members and customers out of their offices shouting, “no work today”!

They took to the street of Old Ojo road, Alakija, Lagos, amidst fireworks and obstruction of traffic, called for the removal of the customs Officer in Charge (OC) of gate, Mr Peter Olaniyan for collecting illegal fee from them.

They said he introduced a controller’s watch list, a list where containers are placed on blacklist, a devise to extort money from them.

Speaking with Ifeanyi John Paul, one of the protesters, had requested for the customs officer’s removal, “Our demand is that OC gate be removed from such a small terminal like this. Do you know that this officer many times, will place our containers on what he called controller’s watch list.

“Then demands we pay the sum of N100,000 for each container to remove our container from the list. That is extortion. There is nothing like this in other terminals,”

Also, Okechukwu Ogbonna, one of the protesters, said he has lost over N10million the customs’ demand.

They also accused the O.C gate of subjecting their containers to double examinations which has resulted to loss of time and money.

“Shipping companies and terminal operators will charge you each container without government doing anything to the bad road. Instead of fixing the roads, they rather sent their watchdog to extort us.

“We are protesting against the double examinations by OC gate, an action since abolished by customs management. OC gate must go. Clarion bonded terminal is one of the best but the only problem is the customs officer,”

Another protester, Ejike Metuselah, an importer, revealed that the customs officer’s act was political. “What we are seeing here is someone using government officials against competitors.

“We are saying this victimisation must stop. We will not take it. Our question is, why do they want to send Clarion bonded terminal out of business? Nobody should be used against it,”

The protesters further revealed that no bonded terminal in Nigeria has customs officer in charge of gate except as seen in Clarion.

When Mr Olaniyan was contacted, with a wave of hand, said “there is nothing going than personal issue between me and Madam (owner of Clarion).

However, in a swift reaction, Public Relations Officer Uche Ejesieme, spokesman of Tincan Island customs command in charge of Clarion bonded terminal in a statement, reiterated that the reform agenda of the Customs Area Controller was very emphatic on compliance and due diligence.

To this end, he said, “It is therefore instructive to note that the command will not lower its guards in enforcing the fiscal policies of the federal government in terms of trade.

“However, this position might appear punitive, but is not in any way intended to victimize or frustrate any compliant trader or facility owner. We wish to therefore disabuse the minds of the general public to their allegations of extortion which triggered unnecessary and mindless protest leading to disruption of activities at the Bonded Terminal in question.

“We hereby enjoin importers and their agents to ensure strict compliance with import guidelines and avoid false declaration which may necessitate actions that might be viewed as high handedness.

“Finally, TCIP as a user friendly port would like to reassure importers and their agents that we are still deeply committed to our resolve to reward compliance and transparency as the task of Nation building is a shared responsibility.”