59 containers trapped at bonded terminal as Customs withdraws Deputy Comptrollers from releasing cargoes

The decision by the Apapa Area command of the Nigeria Customs Service to withdraw Deputy Comptrollers from releasing cargoes at some of the bonded terminals under the command has started to take its toll on clearance procedures as no fewer than 59 containers are presently trapped at Unity terminal, Maritime Today Online has learnt.

It was gathered that the command withdrew the releasing passwords from the Deputy Comptrollers on the grounds that they were not so designated to release cargoes.

Specifically, the Controller of the command, Comptroller Yusuf Malanta had stated that the Deputy Comptrollers were withdrawn because they were supposed to be chief examining officers while Assistant Comptrollers are the ones to release cargoes.

“It is a policy of the Service that Deputy Comptrollers are not releasing officers, so what we did was just to follow the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) as laid down by the Service.

“The Deputy Comptrollers were merely returned to their status quo as Chief Examining Officers, so we pushed other Assistant Comptrollers to their rightful position,” he said.

However, the policy of the NCS, as valid as it is, appears to be hurting goods clearance at the bonded terminals as the command presently has only eight Assistant Comptrollers.

Lamenting the frustration of clearing agents over this development, one of the agents affected, Emmanuel Onyeme, said over 59 containers transferred from the Apapa port to Unity and Jaelith terminals and meant for the festive period are trapped at the terminals.

Onyema therefore appealed to the Customs management to deploy more officers to bonded terminals operating under the command to save them from incurring unnecessary demurrage from shipping companies.

He said, “A lot of us have done examination since last Wednesday, but nothing is going on at the terminals because the command has withdrawn the password of the releasing officers.

“They have been lying that it was network problem but it was on Friday they finally let the cat out. That was when we were told that they have withdrawn most of the senior officers’ passwords. If they are withdrawing the password, at least they should provide an alternative but nothing has been done. In the whole of Apapa command, they have just eight Assistant Comptrollers.

“As I am talking to you, over 59 containers that were transferred from the vessel that arrived at APMT last week to Unity bonded terminal are trapped, nobody has taken delivery. Some containers sent to Jaelith terminal also have the same issue.

“The Customs management did not think about the effect of withholding the officer’s password on importers who want to take these containers, especially during this festive period. There are some shipments made for Christmas but presently, we are handicapped.

“We are stranded here; the Customs are holding agents and importers hostage. Some agents are doing examinations at the major ports and later they will come and join us. If we can’t take delivery between now and Wednesday by Thursday most people will be travelling. That means from next week, we will be paying demurrage. These are demurrage the importer will pay and at the end of the day, he will pass it to the final consumer.”

Onyema took a swipe at the leadership of the association and the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarders in Nigeria (CRFFN) for failing to take action over the plight and operational challenges agents are facing at the ports.

“What we expect the leadership of the association to do, they are not doing it. Even if ANLCA is having a crisis, it is between the leaders, it should not stop the NECOM and the BOT from coming to the terminals to find out operational challenges members are facing. What we are seeing now is personal interest, not the interest of members. They are causing more damage for us because the government agencies are capitalising on the crisis because they see that we are not speaking with one voice.

“Ever since the past governing council of CRFFN was elected, they have never been to the port to speak with Customs, terminal operators or shipping companies but they are collecting POF. They are all benefiting from the system,” he lamented.