Joshua Yousouph
The Patriots Anti-Corruption Initiative (T-PACI), led by Comrade Stephen Ibe, has petitioned AP Moller Terminal and Kachicare bonded terminal over alleged container breaking and corruption in the port.
The group also alleged that the terminal operator extorted importers and clearing agents through illegal delays in dropping containers for examination and also stopping of cleared containers by some government security agencies.
In an exclusive chat with the National President of the group, he noted that several reports are getting to T-PACI on how APM Terminals in Apapa corruptly keep containers in their terminals to incur storage and demurrage charges.
In his words: “Always APM Terminals will claim that there is congestion and no space in their terminal, but they are the cause of the congestion. They allow consignees and agents to collect Terminal Delivery Order (TDO) and start referring agents that want to collect Terminal Delivery Order to SON, Maritime Police, NAFDAC, NDLEA, Customs Police, Custom Compliance, and Customs Enforcement.
“Before an agent approaches APM Terminal for TDO, Customs has already released the consignments, the Police have performed examinations, all the government agencies have performed examination and already signed the examination forms before customs released. So blocking at TDO which is the final point is in the intent to inviting the importer or his agent to collect bribe, which is corruption and inimical to the nation’s economy and must stop immediately” he noted.
Also, in a document which was made available to Shipping Position Daily, the group wrote a petition against the Managing Directors of AP Moller Terminal and Kachicare Bonded terminal over alleged illegal breakage of containers, stealing, and corruption.
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According to the petition, a 2x 40 containers with numbers TCLU5494075, CAIU4423825 at APMT and FSCU8156621, KSCU1002425 at Kachicare Bonded terminal “arrived and was discharged at APM Terminal Apapa and was steemed to Kachicare Bonded Terminal full to the brim before shipping and sailed to APM Terminal Apapa, but when dropped at Kachicare Bonded Terminal it was realized that the containers were broken, and almost half of the goods removed. Pictures were taken and sent to the importer, who confirmed that the containers were tampered with.
“Also at APM Terminal, another container loaded full from China discharged at APM Terminal steamed for APMT at the point of examination it was realized that the containers are not full and are tampered with; that the seal that was shipped with the container from China was different before the container was opened for Customs examination. This was confirmed by the importer as he has the pictures” the statement read.
Ibe however noted that the initiative is working harmoniously with the ICPC and EFCC to ensure the perpetrators are fished out and brought to book to face the wrath of the law.
“We The Patriots Anti-Corruption Initiatives T-PACI advice APM Terminal to be ready to offset all the shipping company demurrages and never demand storage charges on these containers and so far stop doing so to other consignees and stop referring consignees and their agents to all these corrupt officers using APM Terminal platform to perpetuate corruption. We are working assiduously to bring ICPC and EFCC into this matter. We will use all lawful measures to make sure that we stop these corrupt and ugly practices in our ports” he concluded.
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