Stakeholders operating at Apapa ports have lamented that activities of men of Federal Operations Unit (FOU) of the Nigeria Customs Service were having negative effect on evacuation of cargoes from Apapa port.
Clearing agents who spoke with Shipping Position Daily alleged that the FOU officials have laid a permanent ambush for dully-cleared cargoes from Apapa port around the popular Leventis bus stop on Wharf Road, they alleged that this is further contributing to the traffic gridlock on Wharf road which is presently under reconstruction.
Spokesman of the customs FOU Zone ‘A’’ Mr. Jerry Attah in a chat with Shipping Position Daily said that the on-going reconstruction of Wharf road is not as important to the service as revenue and national security.
One of the affected clearing agents, Mr Frank Aliakor alleged that contrary to instructions of the Comptroller General of Customs, Col Hameed Ali, the FOU officers are constantly around the port extorting money from agents over already cleared cargoes.
"There is a huge extortion going on around the port by FOU Zone 'A' custom officers, they use intimidation, they tell you that you paid wrong duty and the agents out of fear will give in to their demands. This action is making people to run away from bringing goods into the country ,especially Apapa port"
"We don't see why we would have finished everything about clearing, signed by officers of the Nigeria Customs and other agencies and along the road, the containers are stopped by FOU"
"Other roads are bad, and this is the only good portion of the road around Leventis bus stop, opposite Area B (Police Command). Also the FOU are around 2nd Rainbow bus stop and Berger bridge along Oshodi expressway, even if you get there by 1am you will see them there, they are there both day and night for months now", he said.
But the Customs spokesman, Mr. Jerry Attah said the officers have every right to carry out patrols based on information, he however said they are not allowed to be stationed at a spot for more than 24hours.
He said, "it is quite unfortunate because I know there is construction going on in Apapa which has led to what the stakeholders are facing and we talking about ease of doing business, but the truth is that, our national security is more important than any individuals interest".
"The officers are on information patrol, it is when they have information that they go on such patrols, but if you see them stationed there for more than 24hours, then something is wrong, stakeholders should call and give us the vehicle number or anything that could help us track the team that is there", he said.
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