There are strong indications that many freight forwarders operating at Nigerian ports have abandoned clearing of goods from the ports due to what they called unfriendly operating atmosphere at the ports.
Shipping Position Daily investigations revealed that many freight forwarders have either left the profession or relocated to neighbouring countries surrounding Nigeria to practice their trade.
There are strong indications that many freight forwarders operating at Nigerian ports have abandoned clearing of goods from the ports due to what they called unfriendly operating atmosphere at the ports.
Shipping Position Daily investigations revealed that many freight forwarders have either left the profession or relocated to neighbouring countries surrounding Nigeria to practice their trade.
Investigations carried out by our correspondents revealed that the decline is attributed to alleged poor clearing procedures at the seaports; most especially in Lagos, coupled with the introduction of the Pre Arrival Assessment Report (PAAR) by the Nigeria Customs Service.
Our correspondent, who sampled opinions of freight forwarders at the seaports in Lagos, gathered that there has been massive loss of jobs by the operators because according to them, the PAAR regime has been characterized by irregularities.
According to them, the much-celebrated PAAR is the direct opposite of what it is believed to be.
A cross section of operators at the Lagos Ports Complex (LPC) and Tin Can Island Port respectively told our correspondent that ordinarily 75% of operators have left for greener pastures based on current procedures at the ports.
Speaking exclusively with our correspondent yesterday in Lagos, President National Council of Managing Directors Licensed Customs Agents (NCMDLCA), Mr Lucky Amiwero alleged that current cargo clearance procedures at the ports are nothing to write home about, because the sector has degenerated to a level whereby policies of government have no effect or input.
Amiwero said that clearance procedures at the ports are imposed on the users, adding that most of the multinationals and even the customs do not respect procedures.
He alleged further that the concessionaires and the Customs lack ability to respect rules of engagements, pointing out that there is no concrete backing of any legal instrument from the federal government.
“The maritime sector is supposed to generate employment and create wealth, but today it is losing employment because we don't follow procedures and we do not have proceedings".
He further stated that most the processes at the ports are through initiatives that are inimical to port operations.
He reiterated that, "the process in the port is killing the economy and activities of the Nigeria Customs Service are not an exception"
The NCMDLCA boss predicted that there will be mass movement of organisations from Nigeria to neighbouring West African states due to lack of enabling environment for business to thrive; coupled with the impending implementation of a common tariff with with countries within the ECOWAS region.
"If the customs and concessionaires fail to do the things right in our ports, many companies will move to another area".
Also corroborating the exodus, a freight forwarder who simply identified himself as Pauly said that there has been massive relocation of agents from Lagos to neighbouring ports since September 2014, due to unwholesome clearance procedures at the ports.
Pauly said that agents have no option than to relocate their businesses to other ECOWAS states due to duty hike and poor infrastructures.
On his part, another freight forwarder; Patrick Eze, blamed the federal government for not engaging technocrats in port development and reforms.
He lamented the Nigeria ports are most expensive and equipment used for operations are near obsolete.
Eze called on the government to move directly into the ports for an on-the-spot assessment of happenings there.
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