The 100% Compliance Team of National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) has petitioned the National Security Adviser(NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu against the activities of the Operators of scanning machines in the Western seaports.
NAGAFF accused the operators of deliberately subverting the original plan and purpose of introducing scanning machines in cargo clearing processes, especially, in the nation’s Western Seaports, thereby perpetuating the option of physical examination.
The National Coordinator, NAGAFF’S 100% Compliance Team, Alhaji (Dr.) Ibrahim Tanko, who made the accusation in a letter addressed to the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA), lamenting the high-level of sabotage at the nation’s ports, saying that the efforts of the Federal Government to secure the nation are grossly undermined by some agencies and concessionaires.
The letter reads in part; “You may recall that the purpose of introducing scanning machines principally, was among other reasons, to facilitate trade and ensure timely cargo clearing processes.”
“The conventional method is that freight forwarders bring in their container laden trucks to the scanning site, and after undergoing the statutory procedures and extant processes, would thereafter exit the port. If however, the container fails the scanning text, the agent takes his truck to the physical examination platform where the suspected infractions, namely, wrong declaration, concealment and other noticeable infractions are referred to relevant government agencies or units for further actions.”
“However, and unfortunately so, what we have and experience now is deliberate circumvention of the near- perfect arrangements of Cotecna in scanning of goods, this is obviously for parochial or pecuniary interest.”
The group lamented that concessionaires have adopted a cumbersome method of insisting on clearing agents using only their own trucks instead of the usual fast method of the agents using their own trucks.
NAGAFF argued that the process make agents pay so much in demurrage, hiring and paying for trucks twice.
“We are of the opinion that if the examination platform meant for examination of containers is utilized, the alarming seizures, such as the ones recorded in Port Harcourt would have been prevented, this is because it would be detected by the scanning machine,” the freight forwarders posited.
However, the Team commended the NSA, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, stating that the procurement of the scanning machines was part of the Federal Government’s efforts towards securing the country.
