Findings by Shipping Position Daily have revealed that delays in cargo positioning for examination by terminal operators at Lagos ports are posing a significant threat to the effectiveness of Time Release Studies introduced by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS).
These delays, which disrupt the timely processing and clearance of cargoes at Lagos Ports according to industry stakeholders could undermine efforts to streamline customs procedures and improve overall efficiency at the ports.
Recall the Customs Area Controller of the Apapa Command of the NCS, Comptroller Babatunde Olomu had earlier accused APM Terminals of causing delays in cargo clearance at the port due to its failure to position containers early for examination.
Speaking when a combined team of the National Trade Facilitation Committee and the World Bank visited the Apapa Customs command recently, Comptroller Olomu noted that while the scanners have the capacity to scan 400 containers a day, it presently scans between 150 and 200 per day.
The CAC lamented that scanners at the Apapa port are presently under- utilized due to APM Terminals’ inability to position the required number of containers for scanning, resulting in delays and additional cost for stakeholders.
“It takes time for APMT to identify these boxes and position them. People book for examinations, but APMT will drop them at their convenience. If APMT said they are ready for examination by 9:00am, then we are available” CAC Olomu stated.
However, stakeholders who spoke to Shipping Position Daily last week highlighted several issues that contribute to prolonged cargo clearance times, contradicting claims of a 24-hour clearance window.
In a chat with our correspondent last week, the National Public Relations Officer of the Association of Registered Freight Forwarders Nigeria (AREFFN); Taiwo Fatomilola noted that delays in positioning and scanning of cargoes are intentional to accrue higher demurrage charges. According to him, the longer a cargo remains in the port, the higher the fees, creating a financial burden on importers.
Fatomilola stressed that a major issue faced at Lagos Ports which play a significant role in prolonging clearance time is network problems, which are not the responsibility of terminal owners. He cited a personal experience where a valuation request submitted on a Monday had not been processed by Friday, leading to unnecessary delays.
The AREFFN spokesman however emphasized that while terminal owners have their own faults, Customs operations are the primary cause of delays. He highlighted the shortage of customs officers at Five Star Logistics Terminal, stating that the terminal previously had two releasing officers, but has been reduced to one, significantly slowing down the examination and release process.
“I wouldn’t say the terminal owners are fully-responsible because the terminal owners have their own faults too. But the major ones are the Customs. When they are talking about Time Release Study, nobody clears their vehicle within 24 hours. But in the media, you will hear 24 hours’ clearance. It is not applicable; it is not practicable.
“Why the scanner has not been working is because the more you stay in the port, the more you pay. That is why most of those terminals are delaying the scanners. So the more you stay, the more you pay. So they don’t want cargoes to be fast tracked so that the more it stays the more demurrage charges accumulate. That is the reason behind it. Nothing more” Fatomilola noted.
On his part, the Tin Can Chapter Public Relations Officer of the African Association of Professional Freight Forwarders of Nigeria (APFFLON), Mr. Clinton Okoro noted that many terminal operators lack the necessary equipment to efficiently handle container drops and other logistical tasks.
Okoro recounted how freight forwarders reported APM Terminals to the Nigerian Shippers’ Council for delaying cargo examinations and scanning by two to three days, only to then impose demurrage charges on the delayed shipments.
However, Okoro stressed that the delays in cargo scanning should not be blamed solely on these operators, pointing out that customs also play a significant role in the delays. He alleged that customs officers deliberately look for minor discrepancies during cargo scanning process to exploit importers for additional revenue, as they are pressured to meet government-imposed revenue targets.
“So many terminal operators don’t have the equipment to drop containers, but the scanning issue shouldn’t be blamed on the terminal operators. We had initially reported APMT to the Shipper Council for delaying our cargoes for about two to three days before they were examined and scanned and later asking us to pay demurrage”.
