Freight forwarders call for proper declaration, examination of containers
Worried by the increasing rate of impounded cargoes in custody of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), freight forwarders under the aegis of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwards (NAGAFF) has called on Customs to always ensure proper examination of containers so as to block all loopholes before releasing the container from the ports.
The association also called on freight forwarders to ensure that their principals (importers), carry out proper declaration of the content of their containers to avoid seizure and total forfeiture of the goods in line with the rules and regulations governing import and export businesses in Nigeria.
“We advised freight forwarding practitioners to always make genuine declaration for the purpose of cargo clearance. This is because genuine declaration helps to reduce delay and high cost of clearing cargo at the ports,” said Stanley Ezenga, National Publicity Secretary of NAGAFF in a statement made available at the weekend.
According to him, corruption in Customs operations usually starts from the importers at the time of making declaration at the traders’ zone of ASYCUDA 3.0 versions. “Importers most times don’t disclose the actual content of the laden containers.
Ezenga, who said that it has becomes more worrisome when freight agents undertake responsibilities from the importers with just a copy of the bill of lading without other supporting import documents, also described the approach as ‘very wrong approach’ to clearing goods from the ports.
“This subjects the import, which is the importers investment to seizure while the importer is also made to face prosecution in the law courts by Customs. The right thing is to prepare a document that conforms to the import and export regulations by making genuine declaration,” he added in the statement.
He however observed that freight agents have the duty to educate their principals on the need to be compliant to import and export regulations in order to protect their investments against the breach of Customs laws.
Alarmingly, a trip to the Comptroller General of Customs’ compliance team and the Federal Operations Unit (FOU) offices in Ikeja revealed that several goods were impounded due to untrue declaration of cargo content.
“Lots of seized goods could have avoided seizure if only the content were genuinely declared by the importer. Therefore, we advised all freight forwarders who undertake third party documentation of imports to be wary of the security and revenue risks being taken for no good reasons.
“A freight forwarder is rewarded with payment of service charge to clear goods out of Customs control at ports. Sadly, Freight Forwarders and Licensed Customs Agents have turned themselves to freight agents and importers at the same time. This is very dangerous because freight agents are not privy to the actual content of laden containers,” the statement further reads.
“The standard operating conditions of the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) and the Customs Excise Management Act (CEMA) ensure that freight agents are protected from any liability if only they discharge their duties with due diligence.
“In time of danger, the freight agent can only be used as a principal witness during prosecution at the law court. However, this now happens in the contrary because of the unprofessional conduct of Freight Forwarders and Licensed Customs Agents while discharging their duties. This has to stop immediately for the sake of our liberty, government revenue and security of the state,” he added in the statement.
The association further stated that there is urgent need for CRFFN to step up its regulatory activities and control of Freight Forwarders and Licensed Customs Agents as secondary economic operators in freight business.
NAGAFF however advocated for more professionalism among freight forwarders in complying to import regulations. “There is need to train the freight forwarders for best practices, which is the statutory duty of CRFFN. This will enhance the knowledge of practitioners and we urged CRFFN to steer up all the approved institutions of learning accredited for training and re-training of practitioners.”
Ezenga also advised the management of Customs to ensure imports comply with the rules of engagement by ensuring that laden containers are properly examined and that any identified infractions were handled before the release and exit of containers.
Uzoamaka Anagor-Ewuzie