Customs Area Controller in charge of Apapa command of the Nigeria Customs Service, Comptroller Abubakar Bashir has said that not less than 5000 containers are being cleared from Apapa under the fast track scheme, but without proper checks.
He said examination is only conducted on the containers after they must have arrived safely at the owner’s warehouses.
The customs boss stated this during his inaugural stakeholders meeting which held at the command in Apapa Lagos.
He also informed the stakeholders that due to the rise in importation of harmful cargoes from across the globe into Nigeria, activities of customs and importation are now being monitored directly by the Presidency, he did not give further details, Bashir said he has reports of thirty four containers.
He recalled that recently, Deputy Controllers of Customs were dismissed at the Tin Can Island Port for clearing certain number of containers even before their arrival at the port.
"Today, we have what we call fast track, we have approximately five to Six thousand containers that move out of this port without any examination in the port, the examination is being done at the owners’ premises. Because of the ease of doing business, government is shying away from giving you additional charges"
"Apart from agents and importers defaulting, custom officers also default, some officers release cargoes even before their arrival at the port, at Tin Can command, DCs were dismissed for this. Since we are taking action against our officer, you should not complain when we discipline you", he told the stakeholders.
"Cargoes from certain companies and from certain routes around the globe are now being monitored, even by the Presidency, as at this morning I had report of 34 containers", he added.
"Unscrupulous elements go all over the world to import cargoes that are dangerous to the lives of Nigerians", he said.
While reacting to several pleas from bonded terminal operators that customs should ensure stemming of containers to their bonded terminals, the customs boss admitted that politics has affected how cargoes are being stemmed to holding bays. He said that customs has no control over the situation.
"I agree with you that there are politics in the movement of cargo, the entire world, it is between politics and economy. It has nothing to do with customs", he explained.
"By this weekend, we are dealing with all overtime cargoes, tell your clients to list all their overtime cargoes and let it be sent to my office immediately so that we can take a final decision", he said.
Discussion about this post