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NPA, stakeholders decry operational delinquency of Customs, NIMASA at Onne port

Bello-Koko, NPA MD, during his interaction with stakeholders at Onne port

—Customs’ detainment of exited cargo causes disruption of seamless port operations

—-NIMASA’s refusal to participate in joint boarding of vessels elongates turn- around time of vessels

 

Eyewitness reporter

The operational misconduct of the Onne port command of the Nigeria Customs Service and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency(NIMASA) came under the hammer of angry stakeholders Friday when they accused the two government agencies of deviant operational procedures which they said are harming seamless port operations at Onne Port.

The angry operators used the platform provided by the Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority(NPA), Mohammed Bello-Koko when he convened a stakeholders’ meeting during his two-day working visit and tour of port infrastructure at the Rivers ports.

At the Onne stakeholders’ meeting, it was Bello- Koko himself who fired the first salvo when he accused the Customs command at the port of causing needless delays in goods clearance by its incessant detainment of exited cargo at the gate.

 

After his appreciation of the assistance and support of the Customs command and other operators to the NPA to discharge its operational obligations,  the NPA MD then drew the attention of what he called high cases of detainment of exited cargo by the Customs which he said negated the tenets of ease of doing business at the port and a mockery of international best practises.

‘However, I will like to also appeal to the Nigeria Customs command in Onne to help us reduce the increasing incidence of cases of detaining of containers that have already been cleared but are detained at the gate. This is not one of the requirements of the ease of doing business and this is not the international best practice.

“So we plead with the Customs to look into this incidence which doesn’t augur well for the rating of our ports.

However,  the response of the representative of the Customs Area Controller of Onne port further aggravated the seething anger of the stakeholders who felt the action of the Customs are not in tandem with the international best practices.

The Customs has rationalised this incidence on the need to enforce compliance and ensure non-compliant trade goods do not leave the port.

”The gate is seamless but seamless gate is for compliant traders. We cannot allow non-compliant goods to pass through the gate.

”People  who do not comply with cargo clearance guidelines and procedures and bring in what is not allowed cannot enjoy a seamless gate.”, the Onne Customs declared.

However, Bello-Koko could not understand why a container that was alsrady cleared and exited by a unit in the Customs will be stoped at the gate by another unit of the same Customs, a development he said showed lack of synergy among the units in the Customs.

“What we are asking for is a synergy among all the departments in Customs. These are containers that have already being cleared by a certain department in Customs but when they get to the gate, they are confisticated.

”What we are saying is that they should not even load the containers on the trucks if they have any issue with the Customs.

”I counted over 20 containers that are loaded onto the trucks because they have already been cleared only to be detained at the gate. They are blocking the road and creating nuisance.

”We would not encourage and allow any container carrying contraband to be cleared out of the port but what we are saying is the if one Customs unit has cleared it, it does not make sense for another unit to confiscate it.

”But I assure you that we shall sit with Customs and resolve this issue because we cannot allow this to continue”

He however advised the Customs authority to make use of their post clearance audit unit to deal with the issue of already exited containers but later found out to still have an infraction, rather than detaining them at the gate to cause obstruction at the port.

He lamented that this incidence is not restricted to Onne port alone but other Customs locations in the country.

Stakeholders said that detainning exited containers at the gate is an indictment on other units of Customs which have already released and exited the containers.

 

They hoped to resolve the issue internally at a meeting that will hold next week Tuesday.

Also, the stakeholders accused NIMASA of not participating in the Joint boarding of vessels with other relevant government agencies which they said was in contravection of the presidential order on ease of doing business aty the port.

However, the Head of Onne port NIMASA office rationised why the agency was not participating with other agencies on joint boarding of vessel.

He said that the duties of NIMASA are so technical  that the agency cannot afford to go on a joint board of vessel for as short as 30 minutes.

He averred that NIMASA carries out far too more important functions that have international implications on the rating of Nigeria in international community such as  maritime safety,marine environmental management and cabotage enforcement which he said has safety implications on the vessels and their crews.

He however disclosed that the agency is ready and willing to participate in the joint baording if the issue of inspection is on commercial activities which the shipping department of the agency will handle.

”NIMASA is the regulatory agency and we are bound by international conventions which we are signatory to and we have to ratify them.  So the ease of doing business does not allign with these responsibilities

”The only area where NIMASA can come in is the area of commercial activities which is handled by our shipping department.

”We have told the last port manager that the Port State Control inspectors cannot just go on board of vessel and leave within one or 30 minutes, it is not possible.

”Because it has to do with the safety of the vessels and its crews.There are so many technical issues including marine environmental issues .These are very critical issues which will even affect our rating in the International Maritime Organisation.

”We make it clear to them that if they want us to be on board for that joint inspection, our shipping department which is on the commercial aspect of it is always available.

”But we cannot be on joint inspection on the issue of maritime safety,marine environmental management and cabotage enforcement, that cannot work”, the NIMASA representative declared.

However, the NPA MD would not want any of that.

He said that no agency will be allowed to go on inspection of a vessel different from when others are going.

He emphasised the need to comply with the presidential directive on ease of doing business and promised to escalate the matter to the NIMASA headquarters in Lagos.

He however mandated his lieutenants to find out if this issue of NIMASA intransigency is limited to Onne port alone or it exists in other ports locations.

”The joint boarding is what was agreed by the federal government , if there is a lacuna, we need to solve it upstairs.

”But we would not allow any agency to go on an inspection of vessel different from when others are going. But we shall speak with your headquarters (NIMASA) on this. We shall also find out if we have the same problems with NIMASA at other ports locations or is it only at Onne port.

”We need to do that immediately and by next week Tuesday, I need you to come back to me with your findings so we can start writing letters.

”But we can’t allow this. This is the reason why everybody complains. The international conventions, whatever it is, we need to find a way to put everything together to ensure that you carry out your functions without fail because you also have obligations , first of all to the nation and then to the international convections.

”Also the ease of doing business, what it does is that it allows everybody to carry out its functions within a time frame together. All the agencies are supposed to carry out whatever functions they have together at the same time with other agencies in the joint boarding.

”We all do it at once and we all come out at once. That is what the Presidential initiative on the ease of doing business said.  We need to work together to make this place work and attract investments to the Nigerian ports”, Bello-Koko declared.

He however expressed the authority’s appreciation to all the stakeholders and other sister agencies of government for their support which he said have make Onne port a beautiful bride for shippers.

”We are delighted at the export potentials of Onne ports and its growing fortunes which could not have happened without the cooperation of the stakeholders. Onne port is the future given its boundless potentials, if they are properly harnessed.

”Let me, therefore, seize this opportunity to appreciate the partnership we have enjoyed from you as stakeholders and therefore called for a renewed synergy which is very critical for the optimization of operations of this port.

”I like to especially appreciate the Nigerian Customs Service in Onne for contributing and donating nine  40-footer containers given to the authority for use as security posts at the port and I can assure you of the judicious utilization of this gesture.

”I will also like to appreciate Brawal Shipping for the timely support they provide the authority by the deployment of mobile cranes and trucks in the discharge of our newly acquired marine crafts and the vital construction of palliative walls along the port access road.

”I will also like to thank the West African Container Terminal (WACT), Intels, Deep Off Shores and others who have in one way or the other assisted the authority in providing solutions to problems that have arisen.

”I want to thank the Nigerian Navy, Nigerian Police, the DSS and other government agencies who have worked with us when we have security and other challenges at the port”

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32 years after, NPA jerks up tariffs, fees by 15 per cent 

says increase meant to upgrade old, dilapidated Port facilities
Funso OLOJO 
The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has announced a 15 percent increase on all its tariffs and fees across board.
The increment, the Authority says, is coming after 32 years of such increase.
The increase is expected to lead to high cost of Port services  while the Port users will pass the cost to the final consumers of their products.
The terminal operators are the major users of NPA services and expected to bear the chunk of the tariff increase.
At a meeting with stakeholders in Lagos to sensitize them on the new development, the Managing Director of the Authority, Dr Abubakar Dantsoho, disclosed that the agency was compelled to take this painful but inevitable decision in order fund massive upgrade of old and dilapidated Port infrastructure.
Represented by Mr Olalekan Badmus, Executive Director Marine and Operation, of the agency, Dantsoho said the tariff review has received necessary approval from government.
The NPA management justified the tariff increase  on the urgent need to address the  undesirable reality of aged and weak Infrastructure, obsolete equipment and slow Port capacity expansion which has continued to  diminish the performance and indeed competitiveness of Nigerian Ports.
Stakeholders at the event seems to aligned with the reasons which the NPA adduced for the tariff increase.
Joshua Asanga , a stakeholder , agreed with the increase, adding that the value of NPA’s present tariff has since been suppressed by Inflation which is at about 35% .
Asanga listed port management liabilities like wages, fuel and other areas of expenditure as having adjusted upwards without a commensurate rise in NPA charges for over thirty years
He added that NPA needs funds for improved port infrastructure, robust ICT for Port Community System, procurement of tug boats and other operational platforms to achieve efficiency
Another stakeholder, Demian Ukagu, talked on the need to apply more NPA funding to outer port facilities and jetties like the Kirikiri Lighter Terminal and development of other critical port facilities across the country.
He added that NPA rates should be able to cover these cost that would guarantee minimum return on investment and promote sustainable trade.
The meeting agreed that existing tariffs were set devoid of capital cost, labour cost, consumables and overhead expenditures needed to run the ports
They feared that keeping the ports on the old tariff would promote consequences like poor service, inadequate infrastructure,poor remuneration ,obsolete critical port facilities, equipment and infrastructure.
Globally, Port Authorities depend on revenue from operations to stay alive to their responsibilities which includes construction and maintenance of Port infrastructure, dredging of channels, provision of aids for safe navigation, provision of modern marine crafts for efficient harbour services, automation and digitization of port transactions, port security, energy efficiency and training and retraining of its employees.
The global index of Port rating and competitiveness which the international trade community relies on for its choice of countries to do business with, derives its data from how well the aforementioned responsibilities are addressed.
Coming at this period of global economic upheaval and scramble for markets, this belated Tariff review borne out of necessity constitutes a critical success factor in Nigeria’s quest to win back cargo handling business and it’s accompanying benefits including job opportunities it had  lost to it’s maritime neighbors.
Contrary to the popular but erroneous notion that attributes high Port costs to NPA relative to its peers, verifiable data shows NPA Tariffs are amongst the lowest in the region.
The high incidence of unreceipted costs due to unduly high human interface, bureaucratic bottlenecks, functional overlaps resulting from absence of a Port Community System (PCS) and its corollary the National Single Window (NSW) are responsible for this contrived falsehood.
Industry commentators believed that the tariff review is long overdue and necessary at this time if the Nigerian ports want to be competitive within the West and Central African sub- region.
“Although long overdue, a quick win benefits of the NPA Tariff review for stakeholders, is the immediate  boost it gives to the Authority to fast track the commencement of actual works on its concluded Port reconstruction and modernization plans.
“Secondly, the Tariff review provides the necessary guarantees to fund the acquisition and urgent deployment of the Information Communications Technology (ICT) backbone of the PCS which is the precursor to the implementation of the NSW” an industry operator declared.
Furthermore, the increased revenue generation arising from the review buoys the Authority’s capacity for critical maintenance works to open up the Eastern Ports for increased vessel and cargo traffic such as the reconstruction of collapsed Escravos Breakwaters and challenged aspects of Rivers, Onne and Calabar Ports respectively.
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Adeniyi expresses concern over environmental impact of public burning of seized drugs 

as Customs destroys 71 containers of illicit substance 
Funso OLOJO
The Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC) Bashir Adewale Adeniyi has expressed grave concern over public burning of illicit substance which he said has serious environmental impact.
The CGC was saying this against the backdrop of the phased burning of 71 containers load of seized drugs by the customs in done selected locations in the country.
Adeniyi was raising this alarm during the visit of United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) on Tuesday, February 4th, 2025 in Abuja.
Adeniyi, who reaffirmed the Customs’ commitment towards strengthening collaboration with the UN body in tackling drug trafficking and transnational organised crime, told the delegation led by its Country Representative, Cheikh Toure, that adoption of  incineration technology to dispose these drugs was a better and safer option in order to protect the environment.
He  however emphasised Customs’ critical role in addressing drug-related crimes, describing them as a major threat to national security.
“There are no bandits or terrorists who operate without drugs. Nigeria is no longer just a transit point for illicit substances—many criminals within the country are actively using them. Drug abuse among youths has also become a serious concern, with some even portraying it as fashionable,” Adeniyi stated.
Adeniyi also underscored the importance of intelligence-sharing in tackling drug smuggling, noting that UNODC’s global network provides valuable insight into trafficking routes and smuggling methods.
The CGC  expressed interest in adopting models similar to the US-led Container Security Initiative, which enhances port screening and intelligence-sharing.
 Adeniyi revealed that Nigeria would host a Regional Donor Conference for Customs Administrations in April 2025, bringing together 23 Customs administrations and development partners to discuss ways to support Customs operations.
 “We look forward to UNODC’s active participation, as the conference will highlight its contributions to Nigeria and the region while exploring new areas of cooperation,” he said.
 Adeniyi stated that the event will take place in Abuja and focus on improving Customs operations, enhancing intelligence-sharing and strengthening partnerships to address emerging security challenges.
UNODC Country Representative Cheikh Toure commended the NCS for its efforts in combating drug trafficking and assured continued support.
“Customs officers are among the most highly trained professionals in Africa when it comes to detecting illegal activities, and they play a key role in the fight against transnational organised crime,” Toure said.
He noted that UNODC and the NCS had collaborated for over a decade in training, intelligence-sharing and environmental crime prevention.
 However, he stressed the need to move beyond training and implement intelligence-driven interventions at ports, seaports and airports.
Toure also emphasised the importance of regional collaboration, pointing out that criminal networks operate across multiple countries and can easily relocate when faced with enforcement measures.
 “A drug trafficker expelled from Ghana does not disappear into the Atlantic Ocean—they move to Côte d’Ivoire, Mali or Nigeria. This is why we must explore regional strategies to address these challenges collectively,” he observed.
He acknowledged Nigeria’s leadership role in Africa, not only because of its size and influence but also due to its efforts in helping other nations strengthen their enforcement capacities, while acknowledging Nigeria’s support for The Gambia, Sierra Leone and Liberia in improving border security and combating organised crime.
Toure highlighted UNODC’s past contributions, including refurbishing and equipping Customs offices in Lagos, but stressed that material support alone was insufficient.
“We must move beyond training and focus on introducing effective detection mechanisms at ports and border points. UNODC’s Container Control Programme and similar initiatives can be adapted to Nigeria’s needs,” he stated.
He reaffirmed UNODC’s willingness to explore new areas of collaboration with the NCS, particularly in intelligence-sharing, technology-driven screening methods and sustainable drug disposal mechanisms.
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ICTN, CISS fees will make Nigeria’s ports more expensive, uncompetitive — Segun Musa

Funso OLOJO 
Dr Segun Musa, one of the vocal freight forwarders in the country and the Managing Director of Widescope Nigeria Limited, Dr. Segun Musa, has decried the reintroduction of  International Cargo Tracking Note (ICTN) at the Nigerian ports, lamenting it will further add to the cost of doing business at the ports.
Similarly, he believed continued payment of Comprehensive Import Supervision Scheme (CISS)  will further make Nigerian ports uncompetitive within the subregion.
Dr Musa, who was giving an overview of Port operations in the country while interacting with the leadership of the Maritime Reporters Association of Nigeria(MARAN), described these levies and charges as fraudulent in nature, meant to further impoverished Nigerians.
He was particularly upset with the continued payment of the CISS  which was a fee meant to fund the operations of the inspection agencies but is it still been collected years after the era of pre-shipment inspection regime has gone.
“Agents should have gone to court to challenge it. It is illegal. The CISS money was meant for inspection agencies to run their operations.
“EFCC should have investigated the government over the trillion of Naira of CISS.” Musa declared.
On the ICTN, the National Vice President of the Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), said the it was not different from the Customs Risk Assessment Report that profiles all cargo coming into Nigeria.
He believed that the reintroduction of ICTN would further add up to the cost of cargo clearance, narrating that with the intervention of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) acting on his petition, the ICTN was suspended at the airport.
He wondered why the ICTN, already jettisoned by the government, is being reintroduced by the government.
“ICTN is a fraud. This is a fastest way of killing the economy. We are waiting for them,” vowed Musa.
The foremost freight forwarder called the Nigeria Customs Service to implement automation of cargo clearance and delivery, stating that the Customs had promised that the B’Odogwu would address cargo clearance and facilitate trade.
“I want to believe it is achievable. What we need is the full automation; we are against use of companies but rather individuals with their identity number in cargo clearance.
“Everything from inspection to delivery should be automated. This is where the integrity of the Nigeria Customs Service will come to play,” said Musa.
Whether Customs will allow the automation to work or Customs agents will declare correctly, Musa averred that the world is changing and Nigeria cannot be left behind.
 “Nobody wants a change. The world is migrating away from analog. This is why investors do not want to come to Nigeria. To advance our economy, we must embrace change – automation.”
Still speaking on the Customs operations, Dr. Musa said there is nothing special in the revenue collection by the Customs but what we need from the Service is transparency.
“I was the lone voice calling for the privatisation of the Customs; anybody can generate revenue. The PIDA did it during the administration of General Sanni Abacha.
“Customs generating revenue is not special; a consortium can generate revenue while Customs is saddled with a border patrol.
“We did it before and we can do it again. If the Customs is not transparent enough, I will not hesitate to call on the government to privatise the customs,” Musa vowed.
He averred that incessant increase in customs duties and revenue target is an indicator that the national economy is not working and is also a lazy way by the politicians to run the economy.
Musa disagreed with the belief that foreigners have taken over freight forwarding in Nigeria, adding freight forwarding is an international job and everyone is free to practice it.
 “Foreigners have not taken over freight forwarding in Nigeria. People need to understand that we live in a global neighborhood.
“You must have strength and capacity if you want to participate in freight forwarding, an international job.
” Government should create a level playing field for all actors. We collect a lot of revenue for the government but we get nothing.
“Chinese government provide funds and enabling environment for her citizens to thrive everywhere. But it is not the case here in Nigeria,” said Musa
The freight forwarder further noted  the land border was closed because of rice, a decision which he described as irrational when the nation does not have the capacity to produce rice enough to feed her citizens.
He maintained that no nation closes her border against goods it lacks capacity to produce enough, expressing fears that the nation may become a dumping ground for other countries as Nigeria does not have capacity and infrastructure to compete competitively in the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA).
“We don’t have production capacity to tap AfCFTA. We may likely become the dumping ground. We don’t have manufacturers again who can produce for enough for local consumption and for export under AfCFTA,” said Musa
On the National Single Window (NSW), Dr. Musa hinted that his fears about the National Single Window (NSW) had been allayed that NSW would not be handled alone by an agency, calling on the government to set up a committee of trustworthy actors to supervise the Single Window.
Assessing the performance of the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy under Adegboyega Oyetola as the Minister, Musa said there is nothing new in marine and blue economy.
“It has been with us for long. We cannot harness natural resources in our ocean if we don’t put the right person in the right places.
“The Minister loves talkshows and  globetrotting. How do we harness the blue economy when you don’t have ships, equipment,” said Musa, who said year 2024 was filled with a lot of challenges and opportunities.
“In 2024, we had a lot of challenges – inconsistent in government policies, fluctuations in Forex that plummeted volumes of cargo traffic and the Customs putting pressure on importers with various ideas to meet its revenue target.
” We had a lot of opportunities to change the narratives but we never had associations strong enough to protect our interests.
“Hike in the cost of transportation dues to incessant increase in diesel did not help the situation. The Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) was handicapped by its teething problem as every freight forwarder bore his cross,” Musa said while highlighting 2024 but hopeful for a better 2024.
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