Licensed Customs Agents and government agencies operating at the ports are trading blames over delays in cargo clearance and frustration of government ease of doing business agenda.
This was made known on Monday during an unscheduled visit to the Ports Terminal Multiservices Limited (PTML) Port in Lagos
The visit which was carried out by officials of the Customs Headquarters Public Relations Unit, caught the port users and terminal operators unaware ahead of their agreed 11am joint examination time.
The appraisal visit followed some media reports blaming examination delays on Customs.
Owolabi Abiodun and Adekunle Oladejo, both clearing agents exonerated customs of blames over delays in cargo clearance as was visibly seen, customs officers were at the examination areas ahead of the time.
Adekunle Oladejo a staff Interlog Agencies Limited told journalists and the visiting team that customs officers are always on ground for examination while the agents have to wait.
Oladejo consignment, which consists of liquid chemicals were already positioned for examination by 11am while no other government agency aside customs was ready
Owolabi Abiodun of Royal Crown Shipping Company blamed persistent rain for delays in examination of perishable chemicals in bags.
He added that customs officers were always ready for examination.
An operative of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Ali Ocheni who arrived at about 11:40am to examination venue,admitted his lateness and blamed it on another assignment he attended to.
Ocheni, a Superintendent of Narcotics also blamed agents for causing delays by not being ready for examination citing bad roads and terminal operator slowness as excuses.
He disclosed that he has been in the ports environments for three years and that customs have always invited NDLEA for joint examination
Comptroller, Florence Dixon who just assumed duty as the Customs Area Controller of the command, reiterated customs commitment to trade facilitation, revenue collection without compromising national security.
Dixon said “I will work to bring everyone together to comply with government directive on ease of doing business
“I believe in punctuality and acting promptly. No time wasting and I believe time is money. Customs has been long in trade facilitation”
Dixon who was Controller of Edo Delta Command swapped position with Francis Adetoye.
From there, the team went to the busiest terminal B1 in Tincan port where agencies of government and licensed customs agents also affirmed that other factors, not customs were responsible for delays.
Dr. Anzaku Peters, an Assistant Chief Regulatory Officer with the NAFDAC commended the service and disclosed that NAFDAC is now keyed into NICIS 2
Lukman Abayomi a representative of Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents ANLCA alleged that delays are caused sometimes by server and banks network
Engr.Jibrin Madu of Standards Organization of Nigeria (SON) called for early cargo examination period.
Stanley Chidozie Ejiogu,Public Relations Officer of National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) blamed the terminal operator for late positioning of containers
Ejiogu said, Tin can Island Container Terminal (TICT) usually drops containers by 12noon.
Abdulrahman Jimoh Abdulwahab, a manager with TICT said his company positions containers based on agents request.
He blamed agents for not perfecting their documentation with customs before booking for positioning of thier containers thereby making it impossible for prompt examination .
He added that late into the afternoon, agents come begging to have their containers positioned for examination
Adamu Sanusi, a Deputy Comptroller in charge of B1 terminal told journalists that as a strategy for quick clearance of goods from the terminal, 14 Assistant Comptrollers are assigned to oversee 14 teams for fast and efficient service delivery.
He said his men are always ready to work even during weekends but must ascertain that payments are made before any consignment is examined.
He said that only those with improper documentation conplaints of delays.
“Trade facilitation is not fraud facilitation” he said.
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