Joyce Mmereole Okoli
The National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) has raised alarm over alleged malicious activities by scanning machine operators in Nigeria’s Western Seaports.
In a petition addressed to the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, NAGAFF’s 100% Compliance Team accused these operators of deliberately undermining the purpose of scanning machines, thus perpetuating the need for physical cargo examinations.
Alhaji (Dr.) Ibrahim Tanko, National Coordinator of NAGAFF’s Compliance Team, highlighted in a letter made available to the media, the misuse of scanning procedures which has led to significant delays and financial burdens on clearing agents, contributing to potential security risks and revenue losses for the government.
The letter reads in part; “We write to you regarding deliberate, malicious and orchestrated methods of which the operators of the nation’s sea ports subvert the plan and purpose of introducing scanning machines in cargo clearing processes, especially, in the nation’s Western Seaports. You may recall that the rationale, purpose, and original intention of introducing scanning machines principally, was among other reasons, to facilitate trade and ensure timely cargo clearing processes.”
” The conventional method, and or idea were for freight forwarders or agents to 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.”
” However, the concessionaires have hitherto adopted a cumbersome style and methods of ensuring and insisting on clearing agents using only their own trucks instead of the usual conventional and fast method of the agents using their own trucks.”
“The implication of the concessionaire’s method is that every scanned container is returned to the stack irrespective of the examination status, making agents to pay so much in demurrage, hiring and paying for trucks twice. Woe betides one if the result of scanning, his container is returned as suspect, the person is subsequently subjected to another booking for physical examination at another fee to the Terminal Operator making it a double payments for a supposed single process. The implication is that this cumbersome procedure breeds corruption and consequently pose security risk.”
” 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 introduction of scanning machines was meant to expedite cargo clearing processes and enhance security. However, operators are returning containers to stacks unnecessarily, leading to excessive demurrage fees and compromising security measures,” freight forwarders stated.
Tanko also expressed concern that such practices not only disrupt trade facilitation but also contribute to revenue losses and security risks at the ports.
He urged the NSA to intervene swiftly and bring terminal operators to account for their actions, emphasizing the critical role of scanning technology in safeguarding national interests.