ANLCA laments multiple clearing challenges, calls for minimum of six scanners in Apapa, Tincan ports.
ANLCA laments multiple clearing challenges, calls for minimum of six scanners in Apapa, Tincan ports.
Segun Oladipupo
The Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) on Monday at the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) reiterated some of the challenges bedeviling prompt clearance of cargoes at the nation’s seaports.
The group stated this at the maritime interactive session held during the 29th edition of the Summit by the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja.
The Maritime session with the theme: Sailing to Success: Harnessing Nigeria’s Maritime Potential, was organised to seek solutions to the challenges hampering the growth and desired development of the sector which has been touted to be the mainstay of the economy.
The National President of the association, Mr. Emenike Nwekeoji, while responding to questions on the missing link between other African countries where ports are run efficiently and in Nigeria, told the gathering of private and public port operators and the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Gboyega Isiaka Oyetola that clearance of cargo from the port in less than three weeks in Tincan and Apapa, is a mirage.
Stating that the problems are multifaceted, the ANLCA boss pointed out that one of the reasons is having to wait for arrival of cargo to ascertain the terminal has contributed to time wasting because agents and importers would not be able to commence capturing of cargo before its arrival
He explained that hitherto, an agent could commence capturing of container pending its arrival and if it does not arrive at the port where the agent is capturing it, it would be rerouted but he lamented that the Nigeria Customs Service has since cancelled such arrangement.
He added that shipping lines’ delay in submission of manifest to custom, also contributed to delay in clearing process of cargoes.
According to him, lack of functional scanners at the port is a menace to trade facilitation and quick cargo clearing process.
His words, “In Nigeria, you can’t clear a container in less than 21 days.
“Before, if you did capturing for a container in one terminal and your cargo is not there, you will ask for your cargo to be rerouted but now Customs say that they will no longer reroute and you have to confirm the particular terminal before you start processing your document.
“Ordinarily, you are supposed to start processing your document before arrival of the vessel
“Manifest submission is another issue. Shipping companies delay submission of manifest whereby you cannot do anything until the manifest is submitted to the Customs
“So, the problems we have is multifaceted.
He said for the port in Apapa to functional maximally, it requires about six functional scanners even as he said that with the size of Lekki port, it requires more than two scanners that it presently operates.
“I will use the port of Therma as example. At port of Therma, as the container is being discharged, it is passing through the scanner and the report of the scanner will determine the stacking area of the container
“If it is free, you take your container and leave and if it has to be subjected to further questioning, the container will be held at the appropriate stacking area.
“In that port of Therma, they have nothing less than 7 scanners but it is unfortunate we don’t even have one here
“Lekki just confirmed that they have two scanners and it is a new port, by the time the scanners are subjected to pressure, they will not be able to withstand the job. With the size of Lekki port two scanners cannot be enough.
“In Apapa, they need nothing less than six scanners but the problem is that they may not have the space
“The major issue we have is the issue of space. The port all over the world is transit area where your goods come in, stay few days and leave there to the warehouse, ” he explained.
