Following series of ultimatum issued in the recent past by the various freight forwarding associations in the maritime sector over allegation of corruption and extortion by government agencies, Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi has summoned the leaders of the groups to Abuja for a meeting on Monday 19th June 2017; that is today.
The associations include; ANLCA, NAGAFF, AREFFN, NAFFAC and National Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents.
Shipping Position Daily sighted a copy of the letter addressed to one of the associations in Lagos last week and it was signed by Sullivan A.D, Deputy Director, Coastal and Port Administration for the minister.
The meeting according to the letter was supposed to have held on 13th of June, but was later postponed to Monday 19th.
On the letter dated 7th June 2017 with reference number T.0160/S.180/T/163, Sullivan informed that the meeting is "to discuss the challenges militating against freight forwarding activities in the ports by some government agencies”.
National Publicity Secretary of ANLCA; Kayode Farinto confirmed the meeting to our correspondent last week.
In a statement issued by Farinto on behalf of the ANLCA and NAGAFF Initiative recently, the two associations articulated the problems militating against cargo clearance from Nigerian ports as follows:
“That the Nigeria Customs Service as the prime statutory agency at the ports engages in a practice that is tantamount to approbating and reprobating. The Nigeria Customs service issues the Pre -Arrival Assessment Reports (PAAR), undertakes the assessment and subsequently release of cargoes from the ports with multiplicity of units in the clearance chain, which are unnecessarily encumbered by incessant alerts and arbitrary jack up of customs duties which is not in compliance with international valuation principles.
“That where underpayments of Customs duty are alleged, the Customs unilaterally blocks (suspends) the Customs agents’ licences which is not in tandem with section 154 of Customs and Excise Management Act (CEMA).”
The association also alleged that personnel of the Nigeria Police have abandoned their statutory role of providing security at the ports to engage in stoppage of cargo delivery at shipping companies and terminals under the guise of conducting investigation.
Continuing, the association claimed “that the “must-settle-me” syndrome in the activities of such other agencies as DSS, NDLEA, Plant Quarantine have exacerbated the corrupt tendencies in the maritime industry.
It added that, “that the Standard Organization of Nigeria (SON), though with a lofty and patriotic agenda of minimising the entry of sub-standard goods into the country appears to have abandoned its statutory role of regulation and is now a revenue generating agency through the imposition of high charges for her services.”
“In view of the foregoing, the Association of Nigerian Licensed customs agents (ANLCA) hereby issues a 21-day notice to the general public that its members nationwide will be compelled to withdraw their services, which will in turn shut down the ports, if these pressing issues are not addressed forthwith,” it added.
Also speaking with our correspondent last week, President of AREFFN, Dr. Frank Ukor commended Amaechi for calling for the meeting which according to him is tailored towards finding a lasting solution to port problems.
He noted that none of the challenges faced by freight forwarders have been addressed by the ministry.
He said that the meeting with the minister would further avail the operators an opportunity to tackle the issues of corruption and extortion at the port.
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