Each agency of govt get an envelope for examining containers – Importers

By Fruzzy Wuzzy

The leadership of the Importers Association of Nigeria (IMAN) has alleged that officials of government agencies involved in cargo examination at the various port in Lagos, receive cash payments before containers are examined for clearance.

Speaking at the recently concluded stakeholders’ meeting on the National Single Window (NSW), hosted by the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Mr. Uche Agwo, the President of the Importers Association of Nigeria (IMAN) alleged that officials of these agencies demand cash payments before examining importers’ containers, adding that any container without such payment is often left unattended.

Agwo said the practice has further driven up the cost of doing business at the ports, as such unwholesome activities increase the expenses involved in clearing and taking delivery of cargoes.

Speaking on the National Single Window initiative, Agwo noted that some agencies benefiting from sharp practices at the ports might attempt to sabotage the project, as it seeks to eliminate the corruption currently entrenched in port operations.

“I say the Single Window project is like a meal on the table — everything on it looks good, appetizing, and beneficial to importers. I’m speaking from the perspective of an importer.
If B’odogwu, which the Customs want to push into the Single Window, is not properly integrated, it might disrupt the entire essence of the project.

To be honest, I am still trying to recover from the problems this B’odogwu project caused me as an importer and as a trader. I can even mention about 10 close friends or associates who have faced similar or worse experiences. There’s been a backlog of delayed containers that have accumulated demurrage as a result of the B’odogwu initiative.

The Single Window will be very, very beneficial to importers — and once it benefits importers, every Nigerian will benefit. For example, if a 40-foot container of bottled water imported into Nigeria currently costs me ₦18 million to clear from the port, and under the Single Window it costs ₦10 million, I’m saving ₦8 million.

So, when it gets to my warehouse, if I was selling a carton for ₦20,000, I would naturally sell it for ₦15,000. You see the impact.”