. 300 containers trappe
By Uzor Odigbo
Operational activities at the Kano Inland Dry Port have been halted for months following disagreement between officials of the Nigeria Customs Service and licensed customs agents over government ban on third party clearance of consignments.
It was gathered that the Inland Containers Nigeria Limited, dry port along Abdullahi Bayero road Kano, has been blocked by truck drivers over the disagreement for about eight weeks.
Third party clearance is a situation where a licensed customs agent lease his operating licence for financial gains, a practice that allows the agent to cut corners and short-change the government.
According to a reliable source at the Kano Dry Port, the dispute between customs and importers, agents over the third party directive needs urgent attention by the federal government and management of the service.
Our impeccable source said government revenue is in jeopardy as parties involved in the dispute are not ready to dialogue in resolving the matter.
He further lamented that over 300 containers have been trapped inside the facility for over 60 days following the expiration notice, which according to him, elapsed in February.
According to the insider source, customs officers insist to implement government policy.
Asked about the revenue lose on a daily basis, he noted that: “On the part of customs and other govt officials, nothing less than N100,000 on daily basis while terminal will lose nothing less than N10,000,000 daily.
“The news is true, the situation still remains same, both staff, agents, customs and other stakeholders could not drive into the terminal as we speak, the situation is getting out of hands.
“The said truck drivers have been sleeping in their trucks for close to two months due to issue between Customs and clearing agents.
“The issue of 3rd party documents has been communicated to all agents/ importers since December 2018 . Three months notice was given to the agents to perfect their import documents.
“Agents/importers do not want to comply with the directive which in turn led to customs’ decision to stiff neck on their policy that no cargo with 3rd party documents will be allowed to be cleared.
“The policy is not affecting Inland Containers Depot alone but all ports and bonded terminal across the country.
“Both gladiators (Customs and Importers/Agent) are adamant on the matter while the grass (Drivers, Terminal operators) are the one suffering.”
He also disclosed that business activities around the all affected ports has not been d same.
Recall that the customs had ordered the immediate stop to the clearance of goods that had discrepancies in the names of importers and other information provided in the clearing documents.
