Freight Forwarders Threaten to Picket Ports over DI Service Providers

Freight forwarders operating in the nation's seaports have threatened to picket all ports if destination inspection service providers are allowed to stay beyond July 1.

This was part of the agreement reached by the freight forwarders after a closed door meeting with a four-man delegation from the World Bank at the boardroom of the Apapa Area 1 custom command.

Freight forwarders accused the service providers of painting Nigerian Custom Service as a haven of corruption and insisted that the service has all it takes to take over the scheme.

A source at the meeting said that "The World Bank delegates are  like advisers to the federal government, they were asking probing questions  on the readiness of Customs to take over, but we have told them that if the federal government refuses to terminate the contract, we will shut the port by July 1”

Also, in its presentation at the meeting, a copy of which was obtained by our correspondent, the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) stated that "we observe there are rumours and insinuations that the six months extension may be the first step towards renewing the contract of the service providers, either as DI or PSI agent"

NAGAFF however recommended that the Customs should be removed from the finance ministry and placed under ministry of justice and granted partial autonomy.