Freight Forwarders Set to Shut Down Ports over Multiple Custom Checkpoints … Issues 72-Hour Ultimatum

By ZION Olalekan

Frontline freight forwarders representing various associations yesterday came together under the aegis of ‘Concerned Freight Forwarders’ issued a 72 hours ultimatum to the federal government after which the Lagos ports would be shut down.

The grouse of the freight forwarders includes multiple checkpoints mounted in and around the port by the Nigeria Customs Service. They argued that the multiple checkpoints have impacted on 24 hours cargo clearance at the port.

The concerned freight forwarders also called on the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo to pay a working visit to the port and address freight forwarders on press issues such as the dilapidated access roads, multiple custom checkpoints, and arbitrary shipping charges.

One of them who is Deputy President of National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) Alhaji Tanko Ibrahim alleged that the Comptroller General of Customs, Col Hameed Ali has set up about ten various customs units posing as bottlenecks inside the port.

He identified some of the units as; CG Strike force, compliance team, Federal Operations Unit, Monitoring, Special Force, CG task force, information team among others.

Tanko said that if the Federal Government fails to get across and address the challenges with customs, stakeholders would withdraw their services from the port as from Monday.

Tanko said the customs boss recently sent a team of custom personnel to the Apapa to inspect 3rd party cargoes with discrepancies at the port. He however said this move has impacted on operators as their cargoes are now being held unnecessarily while they are forced to pay huge demurrage.

Tanko alleged that “Last week, we saw officers from Abuja who said they were sent to the terminals to inspect some third-party containers. But since then, they have remained permanent inside the port.

“They now randomly select ‘C’ numbers and after cargoes have been released, they would ask you to reposition it for examination and we are made to pay for re-examination”.

Also speaking at the meeting, Tin Can Chapter Chairman of ANLCA, Prince Segun Oduntan said the CG committee was sent to Apapa port last week Thursday under the guise of inspecting some third party containers. He however said that the team has taken over the job of resident customs officers.

He complained that cargoes are now being detained inside the ports while agents are made to pay exorbitant demurrage to terminal operators and stressed that 24-Hour cargo clearance is now a mirage.

Also speaking, Chairman of Tin Can chapter of NAGAFF, Azubuike Ekweozor lamented the activities of shipping companies and terminal operators in addition to the excesses of Customs.

He complained that vessels coming into Nigeria to discharge containers are supposed to return with the same number of empty containers but that rather than obey this law, the vessels carry export to other countries leaving empty containers behind.

On his part, Apapa chapter chairman of NAGAFF, Ndubuisi Uzoegbo urged the customs CG to build trust in his officers on the field. He also said that freight forwarders should be carried along by customs whenever they make policies affecting their operations.

He said “Many containers have been abandoned in Apapa because of high tariffs and demurrage from Shipping companies and terminal operators, most offices in Apapa today are empty, shipping companies have forced many of our colleagues back to the village.

“The Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo should come over and address all these issues, he is the one in charge of Ease of Doing Business, when Okonjo Iweala was there as coordinating minister, she came to the port on physical inspection and she addressed us”.

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