Freight forwarder laments police extortion at ports

Chinazor Megbolu    |

A freight forwarder, Mr. Anthony Anakebe has lamented Nigeria Police extortion at the nation’s ports.

In a phone conversation on Wednesday, the Association of Nigeria Licenced Customs Agents (ANLCA) chieftain frowned at the rate at which the police are stopping containers from leaving the nation’s ports even after being cleared by the National Agency for Food Drugs Administration Control (NAFDAC).

Anakebe queried  why being invited to Force Headquarters, Obalande after the goods have been certified by the NAFDAC.

“They are inviting us to Force Headquarters, Obalande. On what ground ?.

“When we get there, they will ask us to write statements and they won’t give you reasons why they blocked or stopped your vehicles from taking the goods.

“All of us are here and they are milking and extorting money from people. Even NAFDAC regulated products are being blocked from leaving the ports.

 “The media supposed to make a noise, so that people should hear about it, Anakebe said.

He reiterated on the Minister of Transportation, Rt. Hon. Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi visitation to the ports few days ago, where he too grieved at the rate of congestion and blockage at the ports.

According to him; “the Minister of Transportation came here few days ago and he was worried that there were still a lot of blockage from allowing goods out of the ports.

“Now, the police will ask terminal operators to stop loading of containers. They won’t give you reasons when you asked them why only for them to be telling you to bring N100,000 or N50,000. What kind of nonsense is that?

“I don’t know why the terminal operators are complying with the police. I wonder why a container already approved by NAFDAC should be stopped by the police.

“Even on the day of examination ,all the agencies were there including the police.

“So, I wonder why an agent is being invited to Obalande only to be extorted without any reason. The media should let the world know about it”.