Dr Boniface Aniebonam (Founder, NAGAFF)
Dr Boniface Aniebonam (Founder, NAGAFF)
The issue of abandoning cargoes in the port is most unfortunate, but then we have to ask, is it possible for somebody to go to overseas with his hard-earned money, bring in goods into Nigerian ports and abandon them there? One begins to doubt the source of his fund. Another angle it can be looked at is the problems associated with cargo clearance at our ports, sometimes you will discover that the various charges inherent in moving that cargo out of the port makes the business worthless, there are lots of things involved, section 30 of the CEMA clearly spell out the dwell time of cargoes in our port but nobody is enforcing this regulation. This means that such goods after two weeks should be moved to the outer ports where the owner can pay less amount of money, this is not being enforced. Terminal operators and concessionaires instead of doing what they are supposed to under section 13 of CEMA; they refuse to do this because they want to collect storage charge. The ultimate is for us to have a regulator in our port system, somebody we can run to and complain, because for now there is nobody we can complain to.
Emmanuel Ekpa (P.R.O, Apapa Customs)
There are so many reasons that may be attributed to the abandoning of cargoes at the port, the ultimate aim of importation is supposed to be for immediate clearance, and in a situation whereby you see containers being abandoned, something must have caused it. I remember the days of port congestion, majority of the containers abandoned were uncustomed goods that are prohibited; sometimes goods are abandoned because they are prohibited and the importer knowing full well that he cannot have his way will abandon it. My advice is that once you made up your mind to start a business you have to follow it through and know what it takes, before you start any importation, you must open your form 'M' and inquire very well about the business so that you don't get stuck on the way.
Osita Machie (Importer)
The cases of abandoned containers are because of the delay in issuing Risk Assessment Report (RAR) and off loading of containers at the seaports. I feel we are still experimenting and this is wrong, the problem mostly is not customs, customs can be handled, all we have to do is to let the national tariff carry CIF value so that, if as an importer you go through it and you are not satisfied then you won't have to import. Apart from this, we do not need the inspection agents, it is better if we go back to Pre-shipment inspection. If you import goods from China for instance, electronic form 'M' takes five days during which your ship must have arrived, the destination inspection agents will also delay by questioning the format of the payment you made, in this process three weeks have been wasted, eventually if you see that you will not make any profit on the cargo and they are still asking you for more money, the best this is to abandon the container.
Okechukwu Vincent (Secretary, AREFF)
Abandonment of containers arise as a result of insincerity on the part of the importers, when you go to your country of import and negotiate with the exporter, you agree on the terms of credit, when you sell ,you remit the money before he sent the next bill of laden, but if you renege, the importer will not send the bill of laden and the container is abandoned in the port. They now find other ways to clear it which are always very difficult; this is the cause of abandonment. But when you look at the whole thing critically you will see that there is need to review the entire system because it aids and abets corruption. Sometimes ago, about 7000 containers where removed from the port to Ikorodu, these are containers belonging to Nigerians, there is need to refine our import procedure so that there will be honesty, when there is honesty there will be reduction in overtime cargoes abandoned at the port.
Comrade Matthew Adele (Dockworker)
The importers should always declare their actual goods to their clearing agent. They should always make sure they are ready to clear goods before shipping the consignment. The problems we have with abandoned goods in the port are mostly caused the importers, because some of them will want to cut corner in order to maximise profit. Again the concessionaires also have their own fault as well because of their arbitrary charges. So I think if government can put in place a commercial port regulator to check the activities of the shipping companies and terminal operators, I think if we bring about speedy clearance of goods from the port, overtime and abandoned cargoes will be a thing of the past.
Olorogun Andrew Agwi (ANLCA)
It is the fault of the terminal operators, let me explain by saying that they will say they are in charge of handling fee ,they will say they are in charge of transfer fees , and many moreand some importers are easily irritated with all this. All these charges and total charges makes it ambiguous and it irritates a lot of our importers and results to quarrel and fighting thus at the end abandon their consignments and as the struggles goes on it becomes too high to pay. They will say TDO is not printable, servers has shutdown, they use all these means to create unnecessary delay and in the end, high demurrage causing aggression from importers and agents". The actions by the terminal operators is killing the economy thus the only way out is for government to put in place a regulator to check there essences.
Pastor Andrew Uzor (Auto Dealer)
Cost of doing business in Nigerian ports is relatively high and that is why we have bottlenecks in the system. In my own opinion, apart from making the right declaration on the part of the importers, the terminal operator should be considerate on their part because they also contribute to some of the problems we have at hand. Therefore there is the need to bring down their charges so that it can be affordable for the agents to pay on behalf of their importers.
Pius David (Port Activist)
The bulk of the blame stops at the door of the government because the truth of the issue is that the government does not have an eye in port activities. The sooner they start to beam their search light on how things are done in the ports, the better it becomes for the industry.
Samuel Harry (PRO Area 1 Customs Command, Port Harcourt)
With the installation of scanning machines and if possible 100% physical examination of all cargo, even the importers and agents are afraid to do any illegal work because if they do, they will be arrested. But if under-declaration is detected, Debit Note (DN) will be raised for the importers no matter the amount. So, for this port, there is no issue of seizure or overtime cargo.
Mr. Ebetan Moses Akeodi (Chaiman NIS, Eastern Zone)
Importers should endeavour to make correct declarations of imported items. They should also avoid contraband. The importers are advised to use registered license brokers, using the right tools. This will no doubt help to avoid misconception of professional ethics. There should also be training and retraining of port users. It will enhance efficiency and effectiveness in port and logistics operation.
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