There are strong indications that freight forwarders operating at the Ports and Terminal Multiservice Limited (PTML) have accused the destination inspection agent at the terminal; Global Scansystems Limited of lack of adequate equipment which has resulted into delays in the processing of their Risk Assessment Reports (RAR).
There are strong indications that freight forwarders operating at the Ports and Terminal Multiservice Limited (PTML) have accused the destination inspection agent at the terminal; Global Scansystems Limited of lack of adequate equipment which has resulted into delays in the processing of their Risk Assessment Reports (RAR).
Shipping Position Daily gathered in Lagos yesterday that the freight forwarders have been taking their RAR to another destination inspection agent; Cotecna Destination inspection, for fast processing due to alleged inadequacies of Globalscan Services Limited.
It was also gathered that the development has led to revenue loss by Globalscan Limited
Our correspondent however learnt in Lagos on Tuesday that in order to put an end to the revenue loss, management of Globalscan held a reconciliatory meeting with stakeholders at the PTML; it was reportedly hosted by the PTML Customs command.
Speaking exclusively with Shipping Position Daily shortly after the meeting, the Site Supervisor for Globalscan, Mr. Marcil Oke confirmed that it was true that the company had challenges with its equipment in 2007 when it first took- off, but explained that these challenges have since been resolved.
Marcil however warned that henceforth, the company will not accept any RAR from freight forwarders other than those processed by his company. According to him, the stakeholders meeting was to educate the agents and their importers on what he called the new agreement that has been signed with Cotecna at the instance of the Comptroller General of Customs that henceforth Cotecna RAR will not be accepted at the terminal.
Marcil said that, “we are supposed to be the only service provider for PTML, but we realized that most of the RARs used at this terminal are from Cotecna so we are really not getting what we should be getting from this place,
“Actually, when we started we had our problems which was in early 2007, but I must confess to you that if you are an importer or an agent, by the time you come to me with your final document I will give you your RAR within two days, we had our teething problems initially, I was initially in charge of Seme border, but since 2008 to 2010 we are above all these”, he assured
Also speaking with our correspondent on the issue, the Secretary of the PTML chapter of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) Mr. Alloy Uchegwu confirmed, agents go to Cotecna to process RARs for containers that are supposed to be scanned at the PTML.
“Initially there were a lot of delays and you know that in this job there is no time for delays, freight forwarders are always in a hurry to exit their cargoes from the port, so they have got used to Cotecna because they don’t waste time, in two days you will get your RAR and this is what every agent wants”.
However, he expressed optimism that with the stakeholders’ meeting, everything has been resolved and that Globalscan has given its assurances that in 48 hours, it will be issuing RAR, he also expressed the readiness of freight forwarders to always patronize the destination inspection agent .
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