The African Association of Professional Freight Forwarders in Nigeria has condemned the total shutdown of customs server with has lasted for a week now.
According to the group the development is becoming alarming and definitely going to cause alot of havoc to importers and their freight agents if nothing is done to stop the calamitous trend.
A press statement signed by the Association’s National President, Mr. Frank Ogunojemite said: “Customs incompetency and server failure has always seen the clearing agents face the grave consequences which is not supposed to be. Despite what is currently happening in the port generally where 65% of freight agents have stopped coming to the industry, some have gone back to their villages as a result of the harsh policy implemented on the customs duty.”
He lamented that there has been upto 90% increase in Customs duty, a development which has jeopardize and crippled the industry and the economy as a whole; causing lots of young professionals to become jobless and roam the streets.
“I’m using this opportunity to plead to all shipping companies and terminal owners to look into the current situation and use their good offices to grant a waiver to us so as to reduced the burden on both the importer and clearing agents shoulder,” he said.
Meanwhile, he appealed to his colleagues and professionals leaders in the practice of freight forwarding to play a professional role by informing your importers on what’s happening currently, carry them along.
“Lastly, I want to urge all the associations to stand up and engage the terminals and shipping companies to look into the current situation to grant a waiver, personally I don’t know the primary function and duty of the governing body (CRFFN), this is where we need them most, they should come out and fight for it’s members,” he added.