Yemisi Izuora
The Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) has expressed concern over major problems facing the nation’s shipping industry, saying the huge demurrage being incurred by customs agents is a gang up by terminal operators and shipping companies.
The association therefore appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to appoint a special adviser on maritime who can directly give him first-hand information on the state of the industry as the ministers and heads of government agencies were not present true state of affairs of the industry to the President.
Dr. Kayode Farinto, ANLCA Vice President, made this known at media roundtable organized by the Maritime Reporters Association of Nigeria (MARAN) in Lagos yesterday.
ANLCA Vice President who said importers and customs agents were losing huge amount of money to the gang noted that the industry if in entirety is harnessed not focusing only containers by the federal government is capable setting the country on the path of economic growth and greatness.
Farinto maintained that the industry is bogged down by a lot of problems as huge demurrage being incurred by importers and customs agents is a conspiracy, a gang up by terminal operators and shipping companies to cheat Nigerians as the minister of transportation Rotimi Amaechi is inaccessible to complain to.
On this premise, the ANLCA Vice President believed that creating such office by President Buhari as his predecessor, President Goodluck Jonathan did, will help President Buhari to get closer, have useful information and collate complaints from stakeholders that will help him to make decisions to correct all the anomalies.
‘’Demurage is a conspiracy, a gang up between terminal operators and shipping companies to extort customs agents; our members are losing good fortunes to them. STOAN and NISA have ganged up against importers and customs agents. If we have a senior special adviser on maritime to President Muhammadu Buhari it will ameliorate our problems in the industry as such officer will present the true position of things to the President. ‘’We therefore call on President Buhari to create the office of a special adviser on maritime,’’ said Farinto.
