The National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) has disclosed that the association is not in support of Customs 100 percent physical examination of cargoes meant for the Kaduna Inland Dry Port (KIDP).
The clarification was made yesterday by NAGAFF President; Chief Increase Uche, while dismissing an online publication where he was quoted as saying NAGAFF was in support of 100 percent physical examination of transit cargoes destined for Kaduna Inland Dry Port. He described the report as a misrepresentation of fact.
Uche who is also Chairman, Research and International Liaison Committee of the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) stressed that the part of the interview, where he was misquoted as saying that both CRFFN and NAGAFF support 100 Percent physical examination of cargoes was not the truth.
He explained that, “What I said on that fateful day is that 100 percent physical examination on transit cargoes at the port is a misnomer, but what is obtainable globally is that once a vessel is off-loading goods or containers at the port, what is obtainable is pre scanning of those containers, where scanners are available and that is the more reason scanners should be made available. That any attempt at conducting 100 percent physical examination is a misnomer.
“I was quoted out of context and this meeting now is to correct the misconception that the wrong reportage created. We will continue to support the establishment of ICDs in Nigeria because we know their importance to port operation. We cannot support any illegality like 100 percent physical examination of even containers at the ports, because we need scanners to ease off the flow of cargoes. Electronic examination of cargo is the standard practice that is in operation globally. So, I wouldn’t want any reporter to tarnish the existing relationship between either CRFFN, NAGAFF as an organization or myself with anybody.”
He informed that following the outcome of his discussions with newsmen earlier in an interview on 100 physical examination of transit cargoes, the management of the Nigeria Customs Service had reversed itself on the matter, which according to him was for the good of the industry.
“And that was what prompted the customs the following day to write a letter dissociating itself from 100 percent physical examination of transit cargoes at the ports. There is a circular to that effect now issued on the 8th of November, 2019 from Customs Headquarters directing that performance of 100 percent physical examination on containers destined for bonded terminals including IDPs should no longer be allowed, that such containers are to be allowed to get to their destination before examination is carried out on them”, he added.
He also refuted alleged claims in the report where he was quoted as saying that the Kaduna Inland Dry Port was not yet approved as port of final destination, he explained that President Muhammadu Buhari had already commissioned it as a port of destination and that cargoes had been going there.
“I wouldn’t subscribe to the mischief of the reporter who wrote that very comment. The aspect of saying that it (KIDP) has not got approval is a misrepresentation. That is part of the misrepresentation of my views. Equally, that very reporter quoted me as saying that freight forwarders are impersonators. I didn’t say so. I said licensed customs agents who call themselves brokers are impersonating as there is no law establishing customs brokerage in Nigeria as at today, that those who call themselves customs brokers are brokers by labeling, that they don’t have the attributes of customs brokers, because we know the qualities of persons who are supposed to be customs brokers which they don’t have, because there is a laid down prerequisite qualifications that one needs to attain before you are certified as customs broker”
“Customs brokerage is a reserved one for indigenous persons. In US, Australia, Singapore and other countries, you must have attained the age of 21 and above and there are qualifying examinations that you must write. After completion of those exams, then you can be accessed and you can now apply as a customs broker”, he said.
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