In line with modern practice of collaboration, the Chairman of Tincan Island Port Chapter of Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) Prince Olawale Cole, organised an all-freight forwarders summit with ANLCA members and practitioners from other associations listing prolonged container deposit refunds as well as challenges associated with terminal operators, Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and Maritime Police as their biggest concerns.
The stakeholders conference had the Tincan Chapter Chairmen of National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), Dr. Emeka Chiedozie; National Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents (NCMDLCA), Mr. Oladimeji Lawal; Africa Association of Professional Freight Forwarders and Logistics of Nigeria (APFFLON), Alhaji Akeem Aribiojo; and two former ANLCA Tincan Chairmen – Ojo Peter Akintoye and Mojeed Akanni.
While the Mediterranean Shipping Company Nigeria Limited was singled out by participants as the biggest defaulters with container deposit refunds taking over 2 months to process instead of the stipulated 2 weeks period; CMA CGM was commended for prompt payment of container deposit refunds.
On Customs operations, the freight forwarding practitioners lamented a new worrisome trend at Tincan Island Port with gruesome delays in the valuation of import consignments; even as they complained about multiple alerts on consignments.
Some of the participants equally lamented that the introduction of B’Odogwu at Tincan Island Port has seen the emergence of frequent server blackouts and delays in cargo clearance.
The practitioners also complained about the activities of Wharf Landing Fee operatives, stressing that the agency functions in an unprofessional manner and frequently engages in conflicts with truck drivers because they wear no uniforms and operate like non-state actors known as ‘agberos’.
In his speech, the Tincan ANLCA Chairman, Prince Olawale Cole, posited that B’Odogwu platform promises a more seamless operation for cargo clearance even though it has come with preliminary challenges caused by the switching of the networks.
His words: “As Chairmen of the various associations, we are having a meeting on Thursday to deliberate on all these problems raised here. We will explore the best avenues to address the problems. We will meet with the Area Controller on the problems linked to valuation, B’Odogwu, 846 and other challenges within the scope of Customs.
“The efforts of the Comptroller aren’t enough to solve these problems. I’m not trying to blame him but if we don’t speak up on these issues he won’t be able to have a fair appraisal of the situation of things.”
Cole also frowned at the interception of containers by Maritime Police and Federal Operations Unit of Customs, stating that a letter to the heads of both departments and strategic engagements will be arranged.
“Wharf Landing Fees is an agency that we have already decided to write to and also pay them a visit such that we can engage them on the problematic issues. The same approach will be done with MSC, CMA CGM Shipping and other stakeholders,” Cole assured.
He, however, charged the newly constituted Tin Can Freight Forwarders’ legal committee to address shipping company refunds.
The event also featured the inauguration of Coordinators of the ANLCA Tincan Chapter Committees.
Speaking during the inauguration, ANLCA National Spokesman, Mr. Emmanuel Oyema, encouraged the Committees to project the association in good light and collaborate with sister associations in tackling industry problems.
On her part, the ANLCA Tincan Chapter Publicity Secretary, Comrade Onome Joy, described the stakeholder engagement as strategic as it availed an opportunity for freight agents to list the myriad of challenges affecting their activity at Tincan Island Port.
“In the past, there have been disunity among the various associations. While the disputes and conflicts were going on, the industry challenges were becoming bigger and more damaging. The only way to solve the problems is to come together. We are excited that today there is synergy between ANLCA, NAGAFF, NCMDLCA and APFFLON. The Chairmen were all in attendance and we expect that the coming together will give freight forwarders the force to tackle our collective problems,” Onome said.
