The visible redundant of the men and officers of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) working at the Lillypond/Ijora, Kirikiri Lighter Terminal (KLT) and other outer terminals in the Western ports has given the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) a course for concern.
This is evident in the letter written to the Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Col. Hameed Ali (rtd.) by the Secretary General of NAGAFF; Mr. Arthur Igwilo drawing the attention of Ali on the plight of the officers in those commands who he said had been idling away for the past years and may have added little or no value to justify their earnings from the public treasury.
He recalled the fact that Apapa port and TCIP were usually congested with laden containers thereby becoming an economic waste with inherent delays, demurrage, port inefficiency, corruption and non compliant attitude of the port users adding that it was a common knowledge that revenue collection was at present consolidated under one Single Treasury Account and the Nigeria Customs Service was not an exception as according to him, “It is one country, one Nigeria, one Nigeria Customs and one account”.
Igwilo added,” Mr. CGC Sir, we want to remind you that the era of impunity is over for persons, group or organization. The point herein canvassed is to ask you to remind the shipping companies and terminal operators that the ports are Customs ports. Please see Section 12 of CEMA as amended. The era during
which terminal operators and shipping companies managing directors make calls direct to Mr. President may be over.
“In this regard we will therefore draw your attention to Section 19 of CEMA, Cap C45 LFN 2004; the powers of the Service to control movement of uncleared goods landed or arrived at the Customs ports and approved border stations: it reads;
1.) The Board may, from time to time, give general or special directions as to the manner in which and the conditions under which goods chargeable with any duty which has not been paid, or drawback goods, or any other goods which have not been cleared, or any class or description of such goods, may be moved between any place in Nigeria and any other place therein.
2.) Any such directions may include directions requiring that any such goods shall be moved only by such routes, by such persons, in such ships, aircraft or vehicles or by such other means as may be approved by the Board for the purpose; and any such approval may be granted for such period and subject to such conditions and restrictions as the Board may think fit and may be revoked at any time by the Board.
“Mr. CGC Sir, you will recall that when you lifted the restriction on rice importation through the border locations, there were issues as to the power of the Board of Customs to do so. We reminded you of this particular Section of the law and the case was put off. In this regard, we again want you to evoke the same Section 19 of the CEMA Act to direct that uncustomed containers ships be stemmed at Ijora and KLT in particular for the sake of Government revenue, trade facilitation, security of the state, job satisfaction of resident officers and our members’ interest at Ijora to earn a living”.
He therefore encouraged Ali to direct the Customs Area Controllers (CACs) of Apapa and Tincan Ports to ensure that ships were stemmed at Ijora and KLT with immediate effect.
“Where you think that it is not necessary to do so, it shall be our opinion that the commands be shut down to avoid further waste to public fund. The high point is that we have to avoid waste with our ailing economy. We are very much aware that the former CGC did direct the CAC of Apapa and TCIP to ensure that cargo are stemmed at Ijora and KLT in the past.
“Without prejudice to the concessioning policy agreement, it is expected that the BPE shall reserve the right to withdraw the allocation of terminals when there is clear evidence of non performance on the part of the concessionaire. The right of competition to source cargo is the exclusive duty of the concessionaire to attract patronage.
“Our concerns and consequent advice again is given in good faith and in the overall interest of the nation”, he said.
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