…Expressed concerns over the role of maritime police in the clearance of cargo
WED, APRIL 10 2019-theG&BJournal- The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) has called on the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs to investigate incessant delays in the release of Pre-Arrival Assessment Report (PAAR) and the associated transparency issues. LCCI urged the CG Customs to quickly look into the problem.
‘’Delays cause high demurrage charges both by shipping companies and the terminal operators. These constitute additional cost to business,’’ the Chamber said yesterday.
The LCCI call came as a result of reports of undue delay in the issuance of Pre-Arrival Assessment Report (PAAR) to importers it received.
According to LCCI, the delays create bottlenecks which makes the PAAR administration process vulnerable to corrupt practices.
‘’The LCCI therefore calls on the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs to investigate incessant delays in the release of PAAR and the associated transparency issues.’’
Meanwhile, the LCCI expressed concerns over the role of maritime police in the clearance of cargo at Lagos Ports. It said in a statement signed by its Director General, Muda Yusuf that there are reports of frequent obstruction of release of cargo by Maritime police even when the release has been duly authorized by statutory agencies charged with the responsibility of cargo examination.
‘’The involvement of maritime police in the cargo release process is a needless duplication, causing avoidable delays and huge demurrage payment by importers.’’
According to the LCCI, the port police are already involved in the examination and release of cargo at the ports. The frequent blocking of cargo by the maritime police is undermining the ease of doing business policy of the federal government. Before cargoes are released DSS and Port Police, are security agencies that authorizes release of cargo.
‘’The interception of cargo by the maritime police is a contravention of the presidential Executive order on ports processes.’’
The LCCI called on the Inspector General of Police to urgently intervene to redress the situation in the interest of the Nigerian economy.
The LCCI equally noted that the challenges of clearing cargo at Lagos Ports had persisted. Apart from the problem of poor access roads to the ports and the associated traffic gridlock, there are concerns about the several units of the Nigeria Customs Service getting involved in cargo interception and clearance processes, creating problems for importers and investors. These units include:
- Comptroller General’s Strike Force
- Comptroller General’s Task Force
- Federal Operations Unit [FOU]
- Customs Intelligence Unit [CIU]
- Comptroller General’s Monitoring Team
- Enforcement unit
- CAC squad
All of these are in addition to the officially approved agencies which have statutory functions for cargo examination and release. These include Resident Customs officers of the command, NDLEA. DSS, Ports Police, Nigeria Immigration Service, NPA, NIMASA and Port Health.
The LCCI seek the urgent intervention of the federal government to stop the disruption that the numerous customs units are creating for importers, within and outside the ports.
”This practice is a negation of the ease of doing business agenda of the government and it is hurting investors. Delays leads to huge demurrage paid by importers to shipping companies and Terminal operators. It also affects the production cycle of manufacturers with implications for cost escalation.”
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