Customs recalls officers at APM terminals

Entrance to the Tincan Port, Apapa, Lagos
The Nigeria Customs Service is said to have
recalled about five of its officials at the APM
terminals at Apapa, Lagos.
As a result of the development which was said
to have occurred about two weeks ago, only one
officer is said to have been left at the terminal.
About five customs officials were said to have
been recalled to the Customs headquarters at
Abuja to answer queries on misconduct.
A licensed customs agent, Mr. David Pius, told
Sunday PUNCH that clearing activities at the
terminal had been adversely affected by the
development.
He said, “Presently at APM terminals, there is
only one customs official, carrying out the duties
of about six persons.
“This official, a lady, is the only person from the
customs who would be present at the physical
examination of consignments. After that, the
same lady would have to go and write a report
on that same container before releasing it.
“A process that would ordinarily had taken a day
or two for the release of cargo under normal
circumstances is now taking a week.
“This delay is costing us a lot in terms of
demurrage. I learned those recalled to Abuja had
queries to answer. The customs should be able
to send people to replace them at the APM
terminals while they sort themselves out at
Abuja. We don’t have to suffer for it. There is no
way that woman can successfully carry out all
the duties of her colleagues combined.”
Plus also criticised the frequent breakdown of the
server at some customs command. He said such
incidents were unacceptable to freight forwarders
and customs agents who are often the victims.
He said, “This issue of server breakdown has
become a frequent occurrence. For the whole of
last week at the Tin-can Island Terminal at the
Tincan command, the server kept fluctuating. I
was unable to get my consignment released.
Although they later explained that they were
trying to upgrade the server, the excuse is not
good enough.
“Is it not better for us all if the customs takes
paid adverts in the papers to alert stakeholders
of an upgrade in its operations? Instead they
make us wait at their commands hoping that the
server would pick up so that we can clear our
consignments.
“They have to realise that any delay in their
operations has monetary implications for freight
forwarders. We keep paying demurrage that
could have been avoided. This is not helping our
economy in any way.”
National spokesperson of the customs, Mr. Wale
Adeniyi when contacted said, “There are some
senior officers of the terminal who are involved in
some activities that need to be investigated.
There were the ones summoned for investigation,
which is a routine disciplinary process. To
ensure that this does not affect activities at the
terminal, adequate measures were put in place
to ensure continuity of work.
“There were initially seven senior officers at that
terminal; six assistant controllers and one deputy
controller. Only two persons were affected.
Another set of four officers, have been sent to
the terminal. So if agents are complaining, they
must have some other reason.”