Hydro-Scanners Overwhelmed by Containers’ Throughput @ Ports-Agents

Nigerian ports are witnessing artificial congestion due to the inability of relevant government agencies to apply discretion in their functions, freight forwarders have alleged

Chief Boniface Aniebonam, founder of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), speaking on port congestion, corruption in the system and lack of discretion in handling port matters, in specific term, urged the Nigeria Customs Service, to continue to exercise and apply discretionary powers in risk management technique with regard to inadequate capacity of our hydro-scanners.

He said, obviously, cargo throughput is more than what the scanners could handle and as such it shall be a good initiative to re-route cargo to physical examination in other to facilitate trade further.

According to Aniebonam, whereas a Government study group may have complained against the use of discretion in our port operations, it is the view of NAGAFF that discretion is the better part of valour.

The NAGAFF founder said: “It is a fact that one of the major problems in our port operations is the non-compliant attitude of the port users.  Nigerian Shippers and freight forwarders may be continuously in default of import regulations of Nigeria.  In the same vein, Government Agencies may appear not to have developed the professional and political will to enforce government regulations with regard to import guideline and regulations.  In all these anomalies, added to the fact that our ports may not have been regulated as such, it is a case of “winner takes all”.

“At the moment, there are clear signs of human element problems in our port system which have in most cases resulted in port congestion.  The hydra-headed corruption effect is equally biting so much that it appears that every function is being derailed.  In our effort to advance the course of discretional powers in carrying out duties, it is our view that the following Organizations of the Government and Private Sector groups should exercise due discretion in the discharge of their duties in the National interest.

“It is obvious that cargo throughput is more than what the scanners could handle and as such it shall be a good initiative to re-route cargo to physical examination in other to facilitate trade further.

“This measure will reduce the artificial congestion at Ports in Apapa and Tincan.  It is also important to mention that the various Regulatory Agencies of the Government should imbibe the concept of corrective measures rather than out- right seizure of imports on matters of standardization and quality control.  Imports into Nigeria without proper labeling should be made to be labeled so that the public will not be deceived, etc.  We encourage SON and NAFDAC to continue and expand this process in the interest of trade and humanity”.

On the part of terminal operators whose capacity cannot take all the inflow of cargoes, he said that these terminals should be able to enter into trade agreement with outer terminal operators to decongest the port.

Among all these avoidable problems, Aniebonam hinted that it is most unfortunate that the relevance of Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) is dragging its feet.

“In the view of NAGAFF, as a professional body of freight forwarders, it is our candid opinion that the solution to the various problems in our ports is in people being made to obey and respect our import/export guidelines and regulations.  Government should be willing to enforce regulations and make the service providers and terminal operators to observe their terms of contract.  There is no doubt that there are veritable signs of system failure in our port functions.  The effect of corruption is really setting the entire system backward giving the wrong impression that the transformation programme of the current administration is a child’s play or a fluke.

“It is a good development that the Senior Special Adviser to Mr. President on Maritime Matters, the Minister of Transport, Minister of National Planning, the Comptroller General of Customs, the Executive Secretary of Nigerian Shippers’ Council and have variously visited the ports in recently time to see things for themselves.  May God help us as we strive to make Nigeria a great country,” he said.