The Africa Association of Professional Freight Forwarders and Logistics of Nigeria (APFFLON) has called for immediate compensation and demurrage waivers for importers and freight agents whose cargoes have been trapped at airports across the country due to airlines’ persistent refusal to transmit manifests to the Nigeria Customs Service’s (NCS) B’Odogwu digital platform.
APFFLON, in a statement issued in Lagos on Friday by its National President, Otunba Frank Ogunojemite, described the conduct of some airlines, particularly at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, as “an act of sabotage” against trade facilitation and Nigeria’s customs automation drive.
According to the Association, the refusal or failure by airlines to submit electronic cargo manifests has crippled customs clearance operations, leaving tons of consignments stranded at terminals and causing massive financial losses to importers, freight forwarders, and logistics operators.
“The suffering of Nigerian importers and freight agents at the Abuja Airport must not continue unchecked. No single entity should be allowed to sabotage the progress made in customs automation and ease of doing business,” Ogunojemite said.
He explained that the absence of manifest data on the B’Odogwu Platform has made it impossible for customs officers to process cargo clearance promptly, resulting in mounting demurrage, storage charges, and operational congestion at major cargo terminals in Abuja and Lagos.
The group demanded that Customs, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) immediately step in to enforce compliance and impose sanctions or suspension on any airline that fails to meet its statutory obligation.
The association further recommended the convening of a stakeholders’ roundtable involving customs, airlines, cargo handling companies, and freight forwarders to address both the technical and administrative barriers hindering seamless data transmission.
“Airlines that have caused undue economic hardship through negligence should be held accountable. We are calling for demurrage waivers and compensation for all affected importers whose cargoes have been delayed due to these acts of non-compliance,” APFFLON stated.
The group emphasized that the situation undermines the federal government’s trade facilitation reforms and contradicts Nigeria’s commitment to the World Trade Organization (WTO) Trade Facilitation Agreement.
“his is not just a customs issue – it is a national economic concern. We expect the relevant authorities to act decisively to protect Nigerian businesses and uphold the integrity of our trade environment,” Ogunojemite posited.
