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Shippers’ Council scolds ICNL over negligence, slams the ICD operator with 70 percent refund of cost of damaged export put at $104,111, N1.653m

—absolves NDLEA, Maersk line of blame as ICNL pleads for mercy 
Funso OLOJO 
The Nigerian Shippers’Council has slammed Inland Container Nigeria Limited (ICNL), an operator of Kaduna Inland Dry Port (KIDP), the ICD facility in Kaduna, with a penalty for refund of the cost of export damaged through its negligence.
The exporter of the damaged export, who had used the facility of the ICNL to export agricultural produce, Cowpea black eye beans to the United Arab Emirates(UAE), Dubai, has petitioned the NSC over the damage he suffered in the transaction due to the alleged negligence and delay caused by  ICNL and the MAERSKLINE shipping.
The exporter, the Managing Director of USBAB MULTI CHOICE LTD, Mr. Usman Baba Ahmad,  has put the cost of the damage at  $104,111.75, while the total terminal and documentation cost was N1,653,205.88( One million six Hundred and Fifty – Three Naira, Two Hundred and Five Naira, Eighty-Eighty kobo).
In a letter of complaint received via the council’s port Office, Kaduna, the Managing Director of USBAB MULTI CHOICE LTD, Mr. Usman Baba Ahmad stated that two export containers of Cowpea Black Eye Beans were damaged.
They put the value of the beans at $104,111.75 USD, while the total terminal and documentation cost was N1,653,205.88( One million six Hundred and Fifty – Three Naira, Two Hundred and Five Naira, Eighty-Eighty kobo).
The exporter identified delay by ICNL ( Terminal Operator/ Forwarding Agent) and MAERSK (Carrier), as being responsible for the damage and requested the council’s intervention for a refund of the loss.
USBAB added that “if the cargo was shipped on schedule, having paid all necessary charges to ICNL from the beginning of the transaction, the damage would have been avoided”.
They further gave a breakdown of what transpired from when the cargo was forwarded to ICNL to when it was eventually shipped out of Nigeria.
The complaint also denied receiving any notification from either FPIS or ICNL on the recommendation that fumigation should be repeated after the expiration of 21 days as contained on the certificate of Quality, Fumigation, Good Packaging Materials and weight.
They further presented additional claims received from the Importer in Dubai and other documents.  The complainant requested the assistance of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council in recovering all funds spent on the beans and the export processes.
The Nigerian Shippers’ Council held tripartite meetings at the Kaduna Port Office where all relevant parties; USBAB MULTI CHOICE LTD
( Complainant) , Kaduna Inland Dry Port/ ICNL ( Forwarder) , Federal Produce Inspection Service ( FPIS), Anglia International Services Ltd (Pre-shipment Agent) and Shippers’ Council’s Complaints Team from the head office were in attendance to amicably resolve the lingering complaint.
The Chairman of the meeting and Deputy Director, Kaduna Port Office, Mr. Paul Garnva welcomed all parties to the meeting and informed that Kaduna Port Office regulates the Dry Port and protects shippers in terms of cost, effective and efficient service delivery.
He noted that since the commencement of operations, over sixteen  (16,000 TEU’s) import containers have been cleared, while over fifty ( 50 TEU’s) export containers were handled.
 He added that the essence of the meeting was to dialogue with a view to arriving at a fair and amicable resolution.
The head of the complaints Unit, Mr. Daniel Orume, a Deputy Director, accompanied by an Assistant Director, (complaints), Mr. Danjuma Buba and Mr. Hassan Aminu ( a principal Operations Officer), however stated that this intervention is crucial, being the first to be held at Kaduna Port Office.
 He said in line with NSC’s Port Economic Regulation Order,2015, the complaints Unit is saddled with the responsibility to find solutions to issues relating to disputes between providers and consumers of shipping services in the industry.
 He stressed that, for the council to carry out its investigation and reach necessary resolutions, it relied on documents presented by all parties.
He pointed out that from the point of view of the the Nigeria Drugs Law Enforcement Agency  (NDLEA), the containers were put on hold for almost one month.
 On ICNL’s counter submission that they were informed late by MAERSK Nigeria, the council sought empirical evidence to authenticate when both MAERSK and NDLEA informed the Terminal as well as when they engaged NDLEA for the release of the containers.
The council further sought clarification from FPIS, statutorily responsible for issuance of certificate of Quality, Fumigation, Good Packaging Materials and Weight, and an explanation on which of the agencies in the export clearance chain is in charge of moisture owing to the fact that the space for moisture content of commodity on the certificate was blank.
The Council also raised issues such as; delay in trying to correct the Bill of Lading of the damaged cargo; sought to know from the pre-shipment Agent, the type of container most suitable for export of agricultural produce; and who is to advise on Packaging of all export cargoes?
Responding, the representatives of Anglia International Services Ltd, the pre-shipment Agent, Messrs. Bodam Sammy and Hyacinth Louis C. informed the meeting ‘ ‘they received the beans and inspected in line with their mandate.
They listed some of their responsibilities to include; ensuring that documentation and goods declared by the exporter have no disparity, ensuring that the Nigeria Export Supervision Scheme ( NESS) fee is in conformity with the goods declared, proper documentation and submission of report of inspection to their head office for issuance of Clean Certificate of Inspection ( CCI) .
“Packaging or the choice of the type of bag is based on the specification of the buyer, the exporter must ensure strict adherence to that.
 “Where there is a discrepancy, CCI would not be issued and where there is an observation by any of the agencies in the export clearance chain, we are supposed to be informed.
”That, in this case, no agency informed us of any observation. “
 The pre-shipment agent further explained that in this instance, everything was properly done as a thorough check was carried out on the bags and the type of beans.
 In line with the physical examination,  ‘ there was nothing wrong with the beans as at the time of inspection “.
The Agency stated that they carried out their inspection and issued CCI  when all the agencies have completed their processes and their role terminates at that point.
Responding,  FPIS represented at the meeting by Mr. Usman Suleiman, stated ” he inspected the beans and found it to be well dried without stone,and certified it to be of exportable quality.”
He said that he fumigated the two (2) containers and further pointed out that the only thing he observed was that during stuffing, ‘ the containers were not properly dressed. ‘
He raised an observation, but the response of ICNL was ” the containers would not stay long “
 He added that if the dressing was to be done, it would not have been possible to move the containers that day to Lagos as desired by the Exporters.
While on the type of container most suitable for the export of Agricultural produce, the representative said any type of container could be used provided it is “clean and free of insects.”
ICNL ( Terminal operator/ forwarder) Kaduna represented by Messrs. Rotimi O. and Salami O. Rasaq informed the meeting ” the damage to the beans was unfortunate “.
They added that they received the cargo at Kaduna Inland Dry Port and transported it to Apapa Port, Lagos within 15 days.
 They also stated that the exporter commended the processing of documents such as For. NXP, NESS, etc. After the beans had arrived at KIDP
ICNL also explained that during stuffing, the FPIS officials drew their attention to the ” need to dress the containers with dry papers and bags,but the representative of the Exporter (Ahmed) insisted the stuffing should continue.”
They added that the trucks conveying the goods left Kaduna for Lagos, but on arrival, they could not access the port immediately due to MAERSK policy which only allows truck access into the port on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, which hindered timely gate- into the terminal “.
They further mentioned how NDLEA ” put on hold” to a great extent, contributed to the delay because neither MAERSK nor NDLEA informed them on time.
 This according to them accounts for the reason why they missed two vessels that the cargo previously scheduled.
After careful assessment of all the documents submitted during the previous tripartite meetings, the legal advice received from the Council’s Directorate of Legal Services as well as review of the role both parties played in the transaction, the Council resolved that the Liability sharing formula should be 70% for Kaduna Inland Dry Port ( ICNL ) being the appointed terminal operator and forwarder with the responsibility to ensure that the cargo is transported and delivered in safe and good condition, while 30% is for the Exporter( USBAB MULTI CHOICE LTD)  for failure to heed experts advice on how to properly preserve the beans and prevent it from damage.
The parties were however grateful for the council intervention, but ICNL requested the Council to review the liability sharing formula.
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Analyses

The invisible toll gates:Why National Single Window is Nigeria’s ultimate economic battleground

Monday Discourse with  Ibrahim Nasiru
Walk into any market in Nigeria today, from the commercial hubs of Lagos to the roadside stalls in Yola, and ask why a bag of rice or an imported spare part costs three times what it did last year.
The typical public commentator will blame global inflation, floating currencies, or macro-economic shocks.
But those who understand logistics know the real truth lies buried under layers of paper, manual stamps, and artificial delays at our seaports.
Nigeria’s international trade is suffocating not from a lack of deep water, but from a deliberate design of convenience.
The recent operational rollout of the National Single Window (NSW) has triggered behind-the-scenes panic among Port cartels, and for good reason.
For decades, keeping our clearing processes fragmented, manual, and dependent on desk-to-desk human interaction was the perfect business model for syndicates.
When cargo dwell times drag on for 21 days, those delays are money in the pockets of the gatekeepers and a death sentence for local businesses.
Let us look at the raw field realities. The push by the Nigeria Customs Service to aggressively crash clearance times down to global 48-hour standards is meeting fierce internal resistance.
Why? Because a unified digital ecosystem means you cannot easily manipulate documentation, hide illicit cargo, or demand “mobilization fees” before signing off a container.
The outcry and protests from certain freight-forwarding syndicates aren’t about technical glitches; they are about the sudden closure of invisible toll gates.
This is exactly why governance at our national gateways can no longer be left to the mercy of transactional bureaucratic habits.
Building deep-sea infrastructure like Lekki Port is a massive physical achievement, but concrete and cranes are useless if the administrative processes at the gate remain backward.
 Real structural reform requires turning our Ports into automated, friction-free pipelines that prioritize production over rent-seeking.
If Nigeria wants to survive this fiscal squeeze, the National Single Window cannot just be treated as another glossy IT project launched in Abuja.
 It requires unyielding administrative enforcement to completely dismantle the corrupt cartels managing the manual desk chains.
The invisible toll gates at our Ports must be completely demolished, and that exact same structural discipline must be scaled across our border stations and trade corridors.
The era of managing international trade with 20th-century paper trails is dying. The future belongs to the builders of automated, transparent systems.
Chief Ibrahim Nasiru, a public affairs analyst,  writes from Abuja 
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Headlines

NANTA Exco embarks on seven-day Ghana retreat, fam trip to deepen regional tourism partnership

Gloria Odion, Reporter

The National Executive Council (NEC) of the National Association of Nigeria Travel Agencies (NANTA) has commenced a seven-day executive retreat and familiarisation (fam) trip to Ghana, hosted by Safari World, as part of efforts to strengthen regional tourism partnerships and expand cross-border travel opportunities.

The NANTA delegation was received at Safari World Homes in Accra by the Chairman of the Safari World Group, Mr. Ernest Gyekye, who expressed delight at hosting the Nigerian travel trade leaders.

He assured the delegation of a memorable experience throughout their week-long stay.

Speaking on the significance of the visit, NANTA President, Mr. Yinka Folami, described the retreat and familiarisation tour as a strategic initiative aimed at fostering stronger business relationships and promoting collaborative tourism development across Africa.

“This mission is not a leisure trip,” Folami said. “It is a deliberate step to implement and expand our association’s marketing advocacy for Nigerian brands across borders.”

He noted that Nigeria and Ghana share deep historical, cultural and commercial ties that should be leveraged to drive tourism growth on the continent.

“Nigeria and Ghana share history, culture, trade and people. The future of our tourism cannot be built in silos,” he said.

“This retreat is about moving from policy to practice—creating real products, real partnerships and real movement of travellers between Accra and Lagos.”

As part of the programme, the NANTA executives will engage in strategic business-to-business (B2B) meetings with their Ghanaian counterparts, tour key tourism destinations under the Safari World brand, and participate in cultural exchange activities designed to promote stronger bilateral tourism cooperation.

The itinerary spans Safari World’s three flagship destinations, including Safari Homes in Accra, the Aqua Safari riverfront experience, Safari Island Cruise, Safari Nautica, and Safari Recreation and Sports facilities in Ada, as well as the Safari Valley Eco Resort and Safari Eco Park in Dawu.

Operating under the brand promise, “One World, Three Destinations, Over 20 Unique Experiences,” Safari World is leveraging the visit to strengthen its footprint in the Nigerian travel market while positioning Ghana as a premier destination for leisure tourism, conferences, group travel, family holidays and premium tourism experiences.

A major highlight of the visit will be the Executive Dinner scheduled for July 21 at the Safari Valley Eco Resort, where key stakeholders from Nigeria and Ghana’s tourism industries will deliberate on strategies for deepening travel trade and advancing regional tourism development.

The familiarisation tour is expected to provide NANTA’s leadership with first-hand knowledge of Safari World’s tourism offerings, paving the way for the development of attractive travel packages and stronger business partnerships that will benefit Nigerian travellers and the wider West African tourism industry.

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Customs

Ogun Customs spurns claims of Smugglers’ takeover of Idiroko–Sango Ota trading Route

Funso OLOJO, Editor

The Ogun I Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has dismissed as false reports alleging that smugglers had taken over the Idiroko–Sango Ota trading route in Ogun State, describing the claims as a deliberate misrepresentation of a traffic incident.
In a statement issued by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, Superintendent of Customs (SC) Chado, the Command clarified that the traffic gridlock on the route resulted from the breakdown of an articulated commercial trailer after it fell into a badly deteriorated section of Atan Road, temporarily obstructing the free flow of traffic.
According to the Command, the vehicles caught in the ensuing congestion were legitimate commercial trucks transporting red palm oil to various local markets and had no connection whatsoever with smuggling activities.
It explained that the large number of heavy-duty trucks trapped in the gridlock may have led some members of the public to wrongly conclude that smugglers had taken over the road.
“The reports that smugglers blocked the road are inaccurate. The disruption resulted from a road accident and poor road conditions. The vehicles involved were lawful commercial vehicles transporting red palm oil for legitimate trade,” Chado stated.
The Command urged journalists, social media users and the general public to verify information before disseminating reports capable of creating unnecessary panic or undermining public confidence in security agencies.
Observers within the border trade sector noted that the allegation does not reflect the prevailing security situation within the Ogun I Area Command, where anti-smuggling operations have been intensified under the leadership of the Acting Customs Area Controller, Comptroller O.O. Afeni.
Since assuming office, Comptroller Afeni has strengthened intelligence-driven surveillance, enhanced collaboration with other security agencies and host communities, and sustained pressure on economic saboteurs operating along the Ogun border corridors.
These measures, according to stakeholders, have resulted in significant seizures of prohibited goods and reinforced the Command’s resolve to safeguard Nigeria’s economy and territorial integrity.
Maritime and border trade stakeholders also cautioned against the spread of unverified information capable of undermining the efforts of security personnel or creating a false impression of lawlessness in border communities.
They stressed that while combating smuggling remains an ongoing responsibility, responsible and accurate reporting is equally critical to ensuring that operational achievements are not overshadowed by misinformation.
The Ogun I Area Command reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining its anti-smuggling campaign while facilitating legitimate cross-border trade in line with the statutory mandate of the Nigeria Customs Service.

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