Freight Monitor
Freight forwarder cries out over heightened insecurity at Lagos ports
—says miscreants, robbers now invade APMT
— laments high non-compliance among freight forwarders
The Eyewitness Reporter
One of the foremost freight forwarders in the maritime industry and the Chairman of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders( NAGAFF) 100 percent Compliance team, Alhaji Ibrahim Tanko, has raised the alarm about what he described as burgeoning cases of insecurity at the Lagos ports.
According to him, undesirables elements such as robbers, beggars and other social miscreants, have now invaded the ports, sleeping and smoking Indian helms at the terminals.
Tanko, who is also the Vice-President, Western Zone of NAGAFF, made this startling revelation Thursday at the Maritime Reporters’ Association of Nigeria(MARAN) round table, a talk- show programme for industry players.
At the programme, Tanko lamented unrestricted access of these criminals into the ports despite the so-called multi-layer security mechanism of the Nigerian Ports Authority(NPA), Nigeria Port Police, the Customs and the terminal operators.
He specifically fingered the AP Mollers Terminal as the worst hit as the terminal has been literally turned into a marketplace.
”I have once written letters to the Customs Area Controllers at Apapa, Tin Can and PTML commands over this issue but there seems no solution to the problem.
”If you go to the AMPT, Apapa, the place is like a market. There is too much crowd. Yo don’t even know who is who in that place.
”People sleeping and smoking Indian hemp at the APMT. The Terminal has become a haven for criminals and street urchins who molest genuine port operators in the terminal
Tanko further disclosed that these undesirable elements often trail their victims from inside the terminal till they reach outside the port before they strike, dispossessing them of their valuables and in few cases, killing them.
”There was a sad case of an agent who was trailed by these robbers right from inside the APMT terminal till they got outside the port where they robbed and killed him.
”In the process of robbing and killing their victim, the ID card of one of the robbers fell down which the police recovered.
”This led them to the criminal who confessed that they trailed their victim from inside the APMT.
”This shows the level of insecurity at the APMT terminal”, lamented the freight forwarder.
He therefore appealed to the Nigerian Ports police, the NPA and the Customs to tighten security at the ports because, ”as its is now , we are no longer safe doing our business at the ports”
He queried how those who have no business at the port could easily gain access into a place where is supposed to be a restricted area.
On the issue of extortion and harassment of freight foewarders by the Cutoms officers, Tanko blamed the audacity of the Customs to perpetrate this henious act on the high level of non-compliance among his fellow freight forwarders.
Tanko lamented that despite the efforts of the NAGAFF compliance team to stem the tide, non- compliance of freight forwarders to exant laws guiding cargo clearing process is still very high.
”This issue of non- compliance is affecting genuine freight forwarders. On daily basis, our containers are being seized on the road by various units of Customs.
”Federal Operation Unit(FOU) of Customs , CG strike Force and Customs Police, at different points on the road, harrass and seize our containers.
He said all these atrocious acts are being visited on freight forwarders because they are not doing the right thing.
Tanko said that in as much as he was not holding brief for the Customs or justifying their acts of impunity, he blamed the non-compliant freight forwarders for their woes.
He said no Customs officer will first ask for money but the fright forwarder who refuses to do the right thing will instead induce the officers with money in order to cover his atrocities.
The NAGAFF chieftain declared that despite the appeal and campaign of his compliance team, which they started two years ago, the level of compliance among the freight agents is still less than 30 percent.
He said the benefits for doing the right thing far outweigh cutting the corners ”as nobody will be able to extort or harrass you, neither will they be able to seize your containers”.
”If you make correct declaration and pay correct duties, nobody will be able to extort you, harrass you, threaten you with Demand Notice or even seize your containers. You will go home and sleep soundly.
”You could even sue them if they dare seize your container in error”, Tanko admonished.
Tanko lamented that those of them in the compliance team are being witch-hunted, threatened and branded as enemies and saboteurs.
He however enjoined freight forwarders to always do the right things in order to safe themselves from the incessant harassment of the Customs officers.
Freight Monitor
ANLCA’s factional crisis at Airport chapter worsens as Emenike suspends Bamgbala Adewusi over trump up charges
Funso Olojo
The factional crisis at the Murtala Mohammed Airport chapter of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents(ANLCA) may have taken a dangerous dimension as the National President of the Association, Emenike Nwokeoji, has ordered the suspension of Prince Bamgbala Adewusi, the factional Chairman of the Airport Chapter of the ANLCA.
The crisis, which was triggered by the dissolution of the Adewusi-led chapter executives and the appointment and inauguration of Temitope Pius Akindele-led new chapter executives about two months ago, has witnessed several twists and turns that dovetailed into multiple litigations before it finally degenerated into the suspension of Prince Adewusi.
In an internal memo written and signed by Fakanlu Olumide, the National Secretary of ANLCA, Prince Adewusi together with two other members, Mr. Davies Ben Chukwunenye and Mr Lekwauwa Ifeayi Valentine, were suspended for their ”refusal to appear before the disciplinary committee to defend themselves over the documented allegations of financial malpractices bordering on embezzlement of association money”.
The memo, dated 7th, June 2024 anC addressed to all ANLCA Corporate Members titled Suspension of Membership reads inter alia “This is to notify the entire members of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents(ANLCA) of the suspension of the membership of the under listed from the association;
1.Mr Bamgbala Adewusi of ASHOV Nig.Ltd/BATOLAB Nigeria Limited.
2. Mr Davies Ben Chukwunenye of SAMON KAY Nigeria Limited.
3. Mr Lekwauwa Ifeayi Valentine of ROKBAL Global Investment Limited.
”The decision to suspend the membership of the above persons is premised on their failure/refusal to appear before the Disciplinary Committee to defend themselves over the documented allegations of financial malpractices bordering on embezzlement of Association money as stated in section 24(10) of our 2023 constitution as amended.
”It is noteworthy that the fourth member also accused in the petition showed up at the Disciplinary Committee sitting and absolved himself.
”It must be emphasized here that members of the Association are under the obligation to conduct themselves in line with the provisions of the Constitution of the Association hence no member should be allowed to act as if he/she is above the said Constitution.
”Consequently, the above-stated members henceforth cease to be recognised as members of the Association, and no transaction shall be conducted with them in their former capacities as members of the Association until further notice.
”We hereby use this opportunity to thank our members for their understanding and support, especially our members in the MMIA Cargo chapter.
”We enjoin them to go about their business peacefully while assuring all that no amount of recalcitrance and blackmail will deter this administration from doing what is constitutional and in the best interest of ANLCA” the memo concluded.
However, industry commentators believed that the suspension of Prince Adewusi was more of political victimisation given the standoff between him and the National President of ANLCA, Mr. Emenike Nwokeoji over the controversial elections in the Airport Chapter.
One of the top members of ANLCA who craved anonymity described Adewusi’s suspension as witch-hunting and an attempt by Emenike to break the resistance and sheer willpower of the factional chapter Chairman which has stood his ground and refused to be intimidated since the crisis started.
The source however described the purported suspension as a charade that will further plunge the association deeper into crisis.
Prince Adewusi was yet to respond to his suspension as at the time of writing this report.
Freight Monitor
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Freight Monitor
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