The Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) in collaboration with the Association of Maritime Truck Owners (AMARTO) is introducing a GPS system that will enable agents track their consignments until it gets to final destination.
A meeting between both associations held at the National Secretariat of ANLCA in Lagos on Tuesday, where AMARTO Chairman, Chief Remi Ogungbemi, accompanied by the association's consultant, Chief Chris Orode assured that they have got the buy-in of the Lagos State Government, the Nigerian Ports Authority and the Nigerian Shippers’ Council to introduce an effective call-up system at the port.
Under the new system, truck drivers would no longer go to the ports unless they are invited by the terminal operators.
Speaking with press men at the end of the meeting, National President of ANLCA, Prince Olayiwola Shittu said that the essence of introducing a GPS tracker on trucks is to put an end to 'flying' of containers and some cargoes missing in transit.
He commended the AMARTO on its effort at introducing call-up system at the port, saying that this is long overdue Nigeria is the only port in the world without a call-up system.
Shittu said that the GPS tracker is an innovation of ANLCA to protect its clients from cargo losses, stressing that ANLCA members are the employers of freight forwarders and transporters; hence they must support the association by ensuring their trucks carry the tracker.
"We are also partnering with them to introduce GPS to track cargoes going from the port to any part of the country, we will use the GPS to monitor the cargo, it is an initiative we are sharing with AMATO and it will come up very soon"
"It is the customs agent that owns the job, all other people are employees, we are employers of freight forwarders, get me a trailer, he gets it, load it and transport it, he does it" Shittu stated.
The ANLCA President commended the Lagos State Government for keying into the call-up system, even as he recalled that the recent clash between the government and truck drivers as a result of restrictions on truck drivers will now be avoided in the future.
"There is a new innovation which is welcomed in the industry and it is the call-up system, you and I know that the way we do things in this industry is too shoddy, a situation whereby you load a container and the container grows wings and fly without getting to the final destination, the call-up system is going to give us free access to the seaport"
"If you load a container, you should be able to return the container to the stacking area or holding bay of the shipping company"
"We are the owners of the cargo, you know the challenges we have accessing the port, now they have a holding bay at the port where there will be a call-up system, it is done everywhere all over the world except Nigeria"
"They are telling us the progress they have made in meeting with government agencies, and we are also introducing the GPS we have done for our cargo" Shittu said.
NAGAFF Says, On Going Restructuring Of Customs, A Necessity 4
The National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) said on Wednesday that the ongoing restructuring and reform of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) was a necessity.
The association, in a statement made available to newsmen in Lagos, said that so many things had gone wrong in the NCS since 2004.
According to the association, “It is the opinion of NAGAFF that the ongoing reforms and restructuring be made to be transparent, to avoid witch-hunting, ’’ the statement said.
It noted that with the on-going retirement in the service, as well as corruption had been on increase at the ports.
According to NAGAFF, this is because most of the officers have the belief that they might either be retired or transferred.
“It is, therefore, a situation whereby you get what you can, because you do not know what will happen next,’’ the association said.
The statement said the hydro-scanners were not properly working, adding that this had created room for the physical examination of containers.
“This situation had become a threat to revenue due to delays being experienced,’’ the association said.
The statement said the appointment of Col. Hameed Ali (retd) has come with mixed feelings to the customs officers and other stakeholders.
“It is our view that the primary duty of Ali is to carry out the mandate of President Muhammadu Buhari, within the shortest possible time, to restructure, reform and ensure maximum revenue collection.
“We have indeed noted the retirement of top officers of the service,’’ adding that there was the need to exercise restraint to avoid throwing away the baby with the bath water.
“On the part of the officers and men of the service, the need to exercise caution is very important, particularly in matters of loyalty to constituted authority,’’ the association said.
The statement, however, said the modalities of disengaging the officers must be transparent; otherwise the exercise may attract litigation from those affected.
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