There are allegations that the new Ports and Cargo vehicle terminal at Okota, Lagos has become a theatre of alleged extortions as clearing agents last week lamented difficulties in getting their vehicles released at the terminal.
Shipping Position Daily recalls that SIFAX Group recently dedicated its off-dock terminals at Okota, Lagos for storage and releasing of the imported vehicles.
But, the clearing agents alleged that immediately the terminal opened last week, Customs officers began to extort them by issuing exorbitant valuation on the vehicles transferred to the bonded terminal.
Two of the agents who spoke with Shipping Position Daily under anonymity disclosed that customs valuation unit at Okota was supposed to issue valuation for the vehicles, but that they were being referred to Tin Can.
"You know there has not been work at Okota in a long time, the valuation officer left his post, they said he was bereaved, instead of posting someone else to Okota, they failed to do so"
"Sifax is under Tin Can Port, so they asked us to be coming to Tin Can to get valuation. The person in charge of the seat is not seeing the vehicle in Okota, but they keep issuing value on the cars. On getting to Okota there would be issues and they will ask us to return to Tin Can"
The other clearing agent who also lamented challenges at the vehicle terminal warned that "Customs cannot continue treating us like trash".
Shipping Position Daily learnt that the agents had complained to the National President of Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs (ANLCA) after which the case was reported to Assistant Comptroller of Customs, Mrs Banke Adeyemo at Customs Headquarters in Abuja.
This development reportedly rattled the Area Controller of Tin Can Command; Comptroller Bashar Yussuf.
Confirming the development to our correspondent, National Publicity Secretary of ANLCA; Mr. Kayode Farinto described it as a mere teething problem which according to him is normal.
In a message he sent to Shipping Position Daily, he said "I am even there now to see how to assist and I think we are moving forward"
"There is nothing like double value, some people went to get valuation without the arrival of the vessel, when they do not even know where the vehicles will be dropped" he said.
When he was contacted for clarifications, Public Relations Officer of Tin Can Customs Command, Mr. Uche Ejesieme debunked the insinuations that customs was extorting the clearing agents.
He wrote, "it is instructive to note that there is a standard value for vehicles of all makes, in fact, I can avail you with a copy of the data base and benchmark which guides valuation. And so the issue of disparity may not be the case"
"What is obtainable in Tin Can here is expected to be same everywhere .We have a valuation seat in Sifax and they will follow acceptable benchmark" Ejesieme said.
However, speaking with our correspondent, Head of Corporate Affairs, Sifax Group, Mr. Olumuyiwa Akande acknowledged that clearing agents were having trouble taking delivery of the vehicles at the moment.
He dismissed any extortion by Customs officers, saying that there is a valuation desk attached to the Sifax Roro Terminal at Okota.
"For everything new there will always be teething problems, we understand all the problems the customs valuation is having, but everything is being worked upon, I can assure you in the next few days it would be resolved, we are already working on it"
"We have a team responding to the challenges, we have a dedicated customs care team, we are aware of the challenges" he said.
But, the spokesperson also quoted Mr. John Jenkins, Group Managing Director, SIFAX Group as saying that firm decided to move the vehicles to its Okota facilities “because there is a high demand for dedicated RoRo Off-dock terminal solutions outside the port area".
“The off-dock terminals are strategically located along the main roads of Lagos and they are new purpose-built logistics centre for handling RoRo products for the Nigerian market. Its geographical position in the centre of Lagos industrial zone provides consignees with faster and more cost effective transport solution.”
Jenkins further said that it was necessary to open the new terminals to customers because the ports area is a temporary transit base where cargoes are stored before it is then transferred to an off-dock terminal. He also assured agents and consignees of an innovative, excellent and unparalleled customer service that will make the releasing of vehicles at the terminals a pleasurable experience.
Corroborating the presence of Customs at the terminal, Mr Akande also quotedGeneral Manager, RoRo Terminals, SIFAX Group Mr. Saheed Lasisi as saying that: “At the Okota terminals, we have the presence of the Nigeria Customs Service officers, a billing and manifest office and all other services that can make the releasing of vehicles very convenient.”, he said.
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