The National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) has called on the Board of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) to accredit six Inland Container Depots across Nigeria’s geopolitical zones as official ports of origin and destination. This move, according to NAGAFF, would address critical issues of revenue loss, security risks, and the abuse of transire operations within the Customs service.
In a letter addressed to the Comptroller General of the NCS which was signed by the NAGAFF Head of Technical Team, Mr Patrick Ogbo, it highlighted the historical context of bonded terminals within port environments, initially established as a temporary solution to the port congestion crisis of the 1980s.
However, with no current port congestion, NAGAFF advocates for a strategic shift in the use of bonded terminals, recommending their deployment to various zones across the federation as designated ports of origin and destination.
The association emphasized the multiplier effects of accrediting inland container depots, such as improved trade facilitation, enhanced security, and increased revenue collection. It also stressed the critical need for such facilities in the northern regions, where the lack of accessible ports has led to higher business costs and economic disadvantages compared to the southern regions.
Noting further, NAGAFF expressed concern over the continued abuse of transire operations, where goods intended for inland destinations are often diverted, resulting in significant revenue losses and security threats. It underscored the need for a more equitable and efficient logistics system that includes designated inland ports linked by rail to the seaports in Lagos, Onne, and Warri.
Specifically, the association pointed to the Dala Inland Dry Port in Kano as a prime example of private sector investment in cargo logistics, that is being underutilized due to the lack of official designation as a port of origin and destination.
NAGAFF urged the federal government to support such initiatives by encouraging private investors to develop similar facilities in other regions, which could create millions of jobs and reduce urban migration.
Ogbo called on the President, the Minister of Maritime and Blue Economy, the Minister of Finance, and other relevant stakeholders to visit the Dala Depot to witness its potential firsthand. They urged the Comptroller General of Customs to establish a technical team to advance the accreditation of inland container depots as ports of origin and destination, particularly in the northern regions, to foster economic growth and stability.
The association reiterated its commitment to Nigeria’s progress and expressed hope that the government would prioritize national interest in its policy decisions, especially regarding the logistics and transportation sectors.
“NAGAFF is greatly worried about the level of abuse inherent in transire application of cargo movement to bonded terminals with regard to revenue collection function of the service and security of the state. Most of the goods going up land regions of Nigeria are being diverted on transit and this is terrible to the Nigerian state generally in terms of security and revenue due to the government
“If we continue to pretend that we do not know NAGAFF will not because we know that corruption at all levels in Nigeria is the greatest challenge in our country. We therefore encourage Mr. President, the Hon Minister of Blue Economy, Minister of Finance, Labour and Productivity, Minister of Trade and Commerce and indeed the Comptroller General of Customs to visit Dala Dry Port Inland Container Depot to see things by themselves and make an informed eye witness account decision The mantra of renewed hope for Nigeria is possible if we live an open mind and implement constitutional democracy” it noted in part.
