Importers of automobiles have called on the Federal Government to simplify cargo clearing processes at the ports to prevent cargo diversion to ports of neighbouring countries.
Speaking last week in Lagos, President of the United Berger Auto Dealers Association; Metche Nnadiekwe, said unless the Federal Government reviewed the cargo clearing system, importers will continue to divert Nigeria-bound consignments to neighboring countries.
He maintained that the clearing processes at the Nigerian ports are unbearable.
“Government should make the clearing process simpler and easier for port users, to stop Nigerian shippers from moving their goods to neighboring ports from where such cargoes are smuggled into the country. The clearing process presently is so bad and so unbearable; we have never seen it like this before”, he stated.
“You are talking about corruption, if you want to fight corruption a lot of things are involved. You cannot talk of fighting corruption when the operating environment is not conducive; otherwise you will force law-abiding people to become involved in that corruption”, he said.
Also speaking, the Vice President of the Association of Nigeria Tyre Marketers (ANTM); Okechukwu Ezeifeoma, said that there is much delay in the time spent in clearing goods from the ports and warned that the country would continue to lose business, if it is not corrected.
“Apapa port is a total disgrace to Nigeria, not just to an individual. It is a disappointment, that is where Nigeria generates most of her revenue apart from oil and gas sector. The delay witnessed in the process of clearing goods from the port leads to extra cost for the shippers and at times when vessels arrive at the port before they will discharge the goods from the vessel itself sometimes, it will take one month because there is no space for vessel to discharge”, he concluded.
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