Following the ban that was placed by the Nigeria Customs Service on third party clearance of cargoes, fresh indications have emerged that the directive could lead to serious port congestion if not reversed.
Shipping Position Daily recalled that the Customs CG, Col. Hameed Ali (rtd) ordered immediate stop to the clearance of goods that have discrepancies in the names of importers and other information provided in the clearing documents.
Customs Authority said it was alarmed at the increasing practice among freight forwarders who clear goods with Form M, Bill of Laden and PAAR that carry different names from that of the consignees.
Our correspondent learnt last week that clearing agents who are in the habit of subletting jobs to one another are now finding it difficult to clear their consignment in obedience to the Customs CG’s directive.
A frontline freight forwarder and Vice President Western Zone of National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF); Alhaji Tanko Ibrahim alleged that more than 5000 containers caught in the web of third party clearance are presently trapped at the ports.
He said 2000 of the affected containers are in Apapa Port command alone.
Alhaji Tanko noted that even though the Customs authority was in order over its clamp-down on 'third party' clearance , but he pleaded that a reprieve be given to containers which are in this category before the ban order.
“Unless Customs grants amnesty for this category of containers and allow them to go, they will rot away at the port because it is not possible to issue another PAAR on them", the NAGAFF chieftain explained.
"As leaders of the associations, we are pleading for clemency. We know those freight forwarders involved in this practice are wrong while the Customs is right in its decision.
'However, the instant enforcement of this directive has paralysed port activities. The vibrancy of the port has slowed down and grounded to a standstill.
'We appeal that the Customs should give time to stop this unwholesome practice. "Alhaji Tanko pleaded.
He further stated that in as much as the association was not in support of the action of his members, the group appealed to the Customs to create a window that will enable the erring importers and their agents take delivery of their consignments, which he noted came before the Customs order, within a particular time frame before reverting to full implementation of NICIS II.
He said that any container that is involved in this unwholesome practice thereafter should be sanctioned.
Tanko noted that the present disruption in clearance procedures caused by the Customs proclamation will have multiple effects on port operations and cost of goods.
"If this action is not reversed to allow those trapped containers to go, this will lead to port congestion, accumulation of overtime cargo and huge demurrage at shipping companies and terminal operators.
''It will also lead to high cost of goods in the market as the final costs will be transferred to the consumers", Alhaji Tanko observed.
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