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Farinto tackles Customs over attempt to demonise victim of Mile- 2 shooting —-claims trigger- happy officer under influence of drug

 

Eyewitness reporter

The fiery Vice-President of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents(ANLCA), Kayode Farinto, has condemned what he described as a vain attempt by the Nigeria Customs Service to demonise one Adeyemi Quadri, the young freight forwarder, who was shot in the leg by a member of the roving team of the Federal Operation Unit(FOU) on Mile 2 road.

Farinto, who is also the Managing Director of Wealthy Honey Investment Nigeria Limited, claimed that the Customs resorted to this unorthodox method in a bid to hush up the unfortunate incident that could have claimed the life of the  Customs broker.

Speaking in his office yesterday, Farinto said it behooves him as a senior stakeholder in the industry and in his personal capacity as a licensed customs broker to speak up and expose the antics of Customs in its attempt to sweep the incident under the carpet after all his efforts to settle the matter amicably has been rebuffed by the Customs.

It could be recalled that on March 17th, 2021, there was a shooting incident at the Mile -2 axis of Tin Can port where an officer in the Roving team of the FOU shot and fatally wounded a Customs broker over  a dispute on 2019 RAV4 Toyota SUV.

The incident generated a spat between the Customs authority, who claimed that the victim was trying to resist and obstruct the officer in his duty of arresting the vehicle which the Customs claimed fell foul of standard clearing procedure.

After the tensed atmosphere generated between the Customs and the confraternity of freight forwarders, the Customs authority, through its National Public Relations Officer, Deputy Comptroller Attah, in an interview with an online medium, declared that the victim of the incident was not a registered Customs broker but a tout who mobilised a mob in an attempt to overrun the officer to dispossess him of his gun, hinting at possible prosecution of the victim.

However, Farinto declared that nothing could be further from the truth the allegation raised by the National spokesman of the Customs which he said should not be allowed to stand if justice will be done in the case.

He challenged the Customs PRO to provide proof of his claims that the shot victim was not a Customs broker but a tout.

“Am speaking as the Managing Director of Wealthy Honey Investment Nig. Limited and a senior stakeholder in the industry and a licensed customs broker.

‘I read the statement made by DC Attah, the National PRO of Customs on the unfortunate incident at Mile Two where one of our members was shot and i can say that he goofed.
”He goofed in the sense that his statement was misleading Nigerians to believe that what happened at mile two was as a result of miscreants who attempted  to take the gun of the officer.

“I challenge him to provide the proof of his allegations.
As a stakeholder and genuine agent, the onus is on me to let the world know the true position of the incident.

”What happened was that a customs agent, having followed the due process of clearance procedure,  applied for valuation on 2019 RAV4 Toyota model and the vehicle was valued at over $12,000 with the surface duty of N1.7 million and other charges which amounted to N2.345million, which he duly paid.

‘After this, the vehicle was duly released and he took delivery of it and drove it out of the port.

‘At a point along the Mile two road, he was accosted in a commando style by one of the members of the roving team of FOU.
‘One of the team members, whom we suspected was not in a stable mind, shot the agent.

“This will take me to the issue of who is a customs broker.
Section 150 of CEMA empowers the Customs board to register us as clearing firms, but we can delegate functions and duties to our staff.

“This was what happened to the agent who was shot .He was working with a licensed Customs brokage firm and that made his a genuine customs broker unlike  what Attah wanted the world to know.

‘But instead of Customs to come openly and apologise that what happened was a mistake, what they now did was to label him as miscreant and tout who is not a freight forwarder.

”This was an attempt to call a dog a bad name before they hang him but I disagree and challenge Attah to prove it” Farinto fumed with flaming fury.

‘Under CEMA, there is what is called precarious liability which means that whatever any of the staff does, the owner of the license under whose the staff operates will be held liable.
”This particular staff paid all the duty accrued to the government.
”We shall not accept the attempt by the Customs to label the agent as a miscreant”, he declared.

Farinto, who was brandishing  a sheaf of document for the payment of necessary duties by the wounded agent, declared that the clearance of the vehicle followed due process as all the duties and charges as assessed by competent Customs officer, were fully paid and the vehicle legally exited.

According to the sheaf of document that was made available to our reporter, the Vehicle, a RAV4 Toyota 2019 model was valued at $12,748 with surface duty of N1,700 ,080.00 using an exchange rate of N381 to a dollar and 35 per cent rate of duty and HS Code 8703.

The valuation officer, according to the Nigeria Customs Service Valuation Assessment Form, who duly examined, assessed and duly released the vehicle, was one Nwankwo, a Deputy Comptroller of Customs with service Number 4115, signed and dated the form March 15th, 2021.

In the Assessment notice by the Customs, the surface duty and other charges assessed and duly paid was N2,345,929.00

The break down of the assessment and payment include N1,700,080.00 as surface duty, N119,006.00 as surcharge, N24,287.00 as ETLS and N502,556.00 as VAT.

The total amount assessed and paid was N2,345,929.00

The declarant with C no 4814RC143708, was Rightful Soil Nigeria Limited while the Company name is Cajetan Egbufoama 24490638-0001.

The declarant paid the full duty in cash with receipt number R-44559 and dated 16/03/2021 at GTB.

The assessment Notice carries C44053 dated 16/03/2021 as Customs reference while declarant reference was 2021/ESHE with assessment reference A 44908 16/03/2021

Farinto, said having paid all the necessary duty and charges, the FOU roving team had no justification to accost the agent and even shot him.

He accused the Customs of hiding under the absence of uniform tariffs on vehicles which he alleged they used to harass and extort agents.

He claimed that all attempts by the ANLCA to prevail on the Customs to take a cue from their counterparts in Ghana who use uniform tariffs on vehicles proved abortive.

He accused the officers of frustrating the process of harmonised tariff on vehicles for their selfish interests.

”I have on several occasions begged the Customs authority to give us uniform tariff on vehicles
”Nigerians need to know that for instance, a tariff on 2019 Camry differs at Tin Can, Apapa and PTML. They pay different values because of the arbitrariness of duty.

”We have received many complaints from our members over the extortion and arbitrariness of tariff on vehicles and asked the Customs to take a cue from Ghana where we even offered to sponsor officers of the service to go and understudy their system.

”In Ghana, your VIN number is imputed into the system which will give all the details on the vehicles such as year of manufacture, mileage on the odometer. With that, your vehicle will be valued. You cant lie.

”But here in Nigeria, they prefer arbitrary imposition of tariff.

”I have it on good authority that the CGC has directed that there must be uniformity of value but this has not been implemented.

”We are tired of arbitrary value, we are tired of giving bribes.”, the ANLCA Chieftain declared.

He said that it was inhuman and callous by Customs  to label the young agent who was shot as a miscreant.

”The officers act with impunity and feel they can get away with anything they do.

”But not this time around because we are going to fight and get justice for the innocent and unarmed agent who was brutalised and shot by an officer we strongly suspected was not in a stable mind.

” The officer who pulled the trigger was psychologically unstable”
”From our own investigations, we found out that this particular officer has been living on psychotropic substance.
”You recalled one junior officer sometime ago who declared himself as the CGC. This incident has been hushed up.
”I challenge the Customs to bring out the officer who shot our colleague and subject him to psychiatric analysis and clinical examination.

‘Nigerians will be surprised at the level of psychotropic substance in his system.

”When the agent was shot, this particular officer was even threatening to give him water so he could die.

”There is no sensible officer with weapon who will say that. We are not at war.
Am challenging the customs to parade this officer and subject him to necessary examination to determine his state of mind.

‘This brings me to the disturbing issue of the state of mind of these  Customs officers with guns”Farinto declared.

He appealed to the general public, especially the civil society groups, to rise up and help the wounded Customs broker get justice.

However, investigation by our reporter revealed that, while the Lagos FOU authority gave the wounded agent N200,000 in two tranches(N100, 000 by the Comptroller of Lagos FOU and another N100,000 by the leader of the Roving team) to off-set his hospital bill, the disputed Vehicle is still in the Lagos FOU detention, almost a month after the incident.

It was gathered that the Unit has slammed a DN of N3.5million on the vehicle as they alleged that the duty paid by the importer was a “compromised duty”

Farinto however disagreed with the position of the FOU which he described as an attempt to safe their face as there was no such thing as a compromised duty in CEMA.

He queried the competence of the FOU officers on assessment and valuation even as he declared that the unit was set up not to collect revenue but to act as the police of the Customs.

”The best the FOU officers, who are not trained in assessment and valuation, could do under such circumstance, was to return back to the releasing ports any consignment suspected of infraction in payment of duty”

He said that it was left for the importer if he would pay the DN which he described as arbitrary, illegal and inhuman but hinted that the matter could be taken to court which is the final arbiter in a dispute of this nature.

He accused the FOU customs of an attempt to whisk away the wounded agent while he was still recuperating at the hospital to an unknown place but ” i frustrated their move when i quickly moved the injured freight forwarder away before the Customs could carry out their plan”

 

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Stakeholders kick against renewal of ETO contract with TTP as NPA reviews agreement 

Funso OLOJO, Editor 
There is a groundswell of opposition among maritime stakeholders against any plan for  renewal of Electronic Call- Up System, otherwise called ETO,
contract with the Truck Transit Park(TTP).
TTP company was the pioneer contractor engaged by the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) in February 2021  to drive the e- call up system at its commencement at the Nigerian ports.
However, the five- year contract expired last February while the NPA is set to review the contract again.
While the TTP have started lobbying the NPA management to get a renewal of the lucrative contract, stakeholders have called on the agency to shun the request of the contractor and instead give it out to a more competent company which is not suseptible to corruption.
The stakeholders argued that, though the electronic truck movement system was a laudable initiative but was married by fraud , corruption and gross  inefficiency as the TTP officials used the system to extort truckers.
The Council of Maritime Transport Unions and Associations (COMTUA) has expressed strong opposition to the contract renewal, citing allegations of fraud, extortion, and inefficiency in the TTP.
COMTUA noted that the system has caused financial burden and, at times, worsened, rather than improved, the waiting times for trucks.
COMTUA  therefore urged  the NPA to consider other more efficient solutions for managing port access.
Stakeholders readily pointed to the plate number and ticket frauds which rocked the system
During the crisis period, plate number and cloning fraud emerged as major methods used to sabotage the Electronic Call-up System (“Eto”) at Nigerian ports, enabling unapproved trucks to gain access to port terminals.

Syndicates and fraudulent truckers have been caught using fake, duplicated, or borrowed license plates to match Eto tickets, a practice that undermined the automated system intended to manage traffic congestion

Truckers often duplicate the plate number of a vehicle with a valid Eto ticket and attached it to an unauthorized truck.

Fraudsters engage in “proxy booking,” where they generated tickets for fake or non-existent trucks and then use those tickets for other vehicles by swapping plate numbers at the gate.

Due to the scarcity of spots,, valid Eto tickets were frequently resold at inflated prices (up to ₦450,000 against a ₦21,000 official rate), with the forged plate numbers used to bypass security checks.

The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA)  intercepted hundreds of fake plate numbers and counterfeit Minimum Safety Standard (MSS) stickers in single raids, particularly around the MPS pre-gate in Apapa.

It was these and other fraudulent acts perpetrated under the management of ETO by the TPP that made stakeholders to advised the NPA not to renew the contract with the company.

“Renewal of the TPP contract will be a monumental error by the NPA because the company used the system to extort and overburdened the truckers.

A more competent company should be engaged to drive the process”  one of the truckers union executives told our reporter.

However, the NPA has reaffirmed its dedication to a “congestion-free” port environment and is actively assessing the performance of the Eto system.

The agency emphasized that the electronic call-up is now a cornerstone of their digital agenda, aimed at increasing transparency and minimizing human interaction.

The review process is ongoing, with significant pressure from stakeholders to either continue with the current system (with improvements) or seek a new, more efficient solution to maintain sanity on the Apapa and Tin Can Island port access road

But the Authority  has assured port users and industry stakeholders that there will be no disruption to operations as it reviews the expired agreement governing the Electronic Truck Call-Up System (ETO)

The contract between the NPA and Truck Transit Park Ltd (TTP), which manages the ETO platform, reached its term at the end of February and is currently under review.

Nevertheless ,the Authority has moved swiftly to calm concerns, emphasizing that port efficiency and seamless cargo movement remain top priorities.

In a statement, the NPA’s General Manager, Corporate Communications, Ikechukwu Onyemekara, said there are clear provisions within the expired agreement to guarantee operational stability.

“There are options under the expired agreement to be adopted to ensure that necessary arrangements are in place for business continuity by the parties that would ensure that operations are not disrupted in any way,” Onyemekara said.

He described the review as a routine administrative process consistent with global best practices, noting that the Authority is committed to safeguarding the gains recorded since the introduction of the digital call-up system.

The ETO platform was introduced in 2021 at the height of the Apapa gridlock crisis to regulate truck movement into the Lagos ports corridor.
By requiring pre-booked access slots before trucks approach the ports, the system restored order to the once chaotic logistics chain and significantly reduced traffic congestion along port access roads.
Industry observers noted that under the NPA’s supervision, the digital regime has contributed to improved cargo evacuation, enhanced vessel turnaround time, and greater predictability in port operations.
They however warned that renewing the contract with TTP will reverse the gains of the system and stagnate the process of electronic movement of trucks in and out of the Ports.
While the review process continues, the NPA has reiterated its commitment to transparency, efficiency, and stakeholder engagement in determining the next phase of the call-up system.
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National Single Window, a marriage of strange bed fellows that may change nothing in cargo clearance process – Segun Musa 

Funso OLOJO, Editor 
A maritime expert and the National Vice President of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), Dr Segun Musa, has taken a swipe at the celebrated National Single Window(NSW) programme of the Federal government, describing it as a ‘mere jamboree’ that may not have the desired impact on cargo clearance process at the Port.
Dr Musa, who was the guest at the weekly Maritime Reporters Association of Nigeria (MARAN) roundtable discussion programme held on Wednesday, February 4th, 2026, at Apapa , Lagos,said the NSW is like ‘an ordinary shell that houses different agencies’ that don’t have equal efficiency in trade facilitation.
He noted that SW is like a chain and it will be as strong as it’s weakest link.
The NAGAFF chief observed that if all the participating agencies are not ready and their operations are not automated, the whole essence will be a waste of time and resources because, according to him, one of the agencies in the link  can delay the process due to inefficiency.
” What is the level of competence and efficiency of the participating agencies?
“If all of them are warehoused in a single window, an incompetent agency among them could frustrate the process.
“So let nobody deceive us that there’s going to be one single window that it’s going to be a game changer that will facilitate trade and everything will just be moving. It’s never true” Musa declared.
It could be recalled that the Federal government has fixed March 27th, 2026 as the official date for the launch of the first phase of the NSW.
On African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), Dr Musa said the programme would not deliver meaningful impact for Nigeria without clearly defined, holistic and measurable policies to drive its implementation, criticizing what he described as Nigeria’s ceremonial participation in the programme.
According to him, genuine participation under AfCFTA should reflect in export volumes and measurable benchmarks rather than media showcases of minimal shipments.
“If we were serious under this scheme, we should be talking about exporting 200,000 to 300,000 containers by now — even up to a million.
” Instead, we are celebrating one or two containers and gathering media houses to showcase them. Is that participation? It’s painful for a country of this size,” he said.
Musa argued that policy frameworks must be predictive and structured in a way that allows stakeholders to key into them with certainty of outcomes.
“A policy must be holistic. You should be able to key into it and predict what will happen. That is the essence of policy. What we are doing now is a waste of time and resources,” he stated.
Responding to question on policy gaps and measurable benchmarks required to reposition Nigeria under AfCFTA, Musa maintained that the challenge was not the absence of declarations but the lack of institutional readiness and structured participation.
He further compared Nigeria’s export performance with that of Europe and Asia, noting that serious trading economies focus on volume and competitiveness rather than symbolic shipments.
The maritime expert expressed concern that without concrete benchmarks, coordinated institutional reforms and export-driven strategies, Nigeria may struggle to maximise opportunities under AfCFTA.
The roundtable ended with renewed calls for actionable policies, institutional competence and measurable targets to ensure that the continental trade agreement translates into tangible economic gains for the country
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Indigenous maritime investors seek partnership with NIWA for mutual development of inland waterways 

Gloria Odion, Maritime Reporter 
A coalition of indigenous maritime tourism and transportation investors has pledged to unlock strategic investment opportunities aimed at developing Nigeria’s vast but largely untapped maritime tourism economy for the benefit of littoral communities in Lagos and across the country.
The group, Allied Concessionaires and Blue Economy Alliance, made the commitment during a courtesy visit to the Lagos Area Manager of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), Engineer Sarat Braimah, on Tuesday at the NIWA Lagos Area Office.
Speaking during the visit, Chairman of the coalition, Bolaji Olasade, explained that the alliance is made up of reputable and experienced maritime tourism and transportation operators committed to redefining waterfront recreation and hospitality by integrating safe and efficient water transportation systems.
 He noted that the initiative is designed to create jobs, boost coastal tourism, and expand economic opportunities within Lagos and beyond.
“We came to formally introduce our coalition, which is not a conventional association but a consortium of visible and tested operators, mostly concessionaires, who are willing and ready to collaborate with NIWA to grow and develop inland waterways tourism infrastructure.
“We are also focused on opening up littoral communities through destination marketing and the promotion of resorts,” Olasade stated.
He added that the group seeks to reposition Nigeria’s brown water and blue economy sectors by transforming the country’s waterfront hospitality and tourism landscape into a globally competitive industry.
In her remarks, the Secretary of the coalition, Barrister Dorcas Aderemi, emphasized that the Nigerian marine and blue economy sector can only thrive when the inland waterways ecosystem is strategically aligned for sustainable investment and funding.
She called for a structured public-private partnership model between the private sector and NIWA to fast-track development and enhance inland waterways utilization.
According to her, such collaboration would not only stimulate economic growth and job creation but also significantly boost government revenue and national development.
The group commended Engineer Braimah for her leadership and commitment to industry growth, particularly her zero-tolerance stance on boat transportation accidents and security infractions on inland waterways in Lagos.
They also congratulated her on her recent Nelson Mandela Pan-African Leadership Award, describing it as a testament to her dedication to national service.
Responding, Engineer Braimah welcomed the delegation and expressed appreciation for their interest in partnering with NIWA.
She assured them of the Authority’s willingness to collaborate in unlocking opportunities within the inland waterways corridor in Lagos and across Nigeria.
“We are pleased to receive you and have listened carefully to your intentions to collaborate with us.
“We recognize that NIWA cannot achieve its mandate alone without the private sector, especially serious investors with genuine financial commitments to the industry.
“We will communicate your proposals to our headquarters in Abuja to explore how your group can leverage existing opportunities,” she said.
The Area Manager further highlighted the need to modernize inland water transportation by introducing new boats and ferries to gradually phase out outdated watercraft, thereby enhancing safety, efficiency, and value across the waterways transportation and hospitality sectors.
She concluded by urging the coalition to remain united, avoid internal conflicts, and focus on delivering meaningful impact, particularly for littoral communities that must be actively engaged and empowered to benefit from maritime tourism and transportation opportunities within their environment.
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