Maritime
Customs Allegedly Abandons Container Inspection Bay
Officers of Nigeria Cus
toms Service (NCS) operating at the Lagos seaport may have abandoned a N640 million ultramodern container inspection facility, which was meant to speed up the clearing process of imported goods.
Consequently, the management of leading global terminal operator, APM Terminals Apapa Limited, which built and handed over the facility to the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), in 2010, is now calling on Customs management to compel its officers to utilise the facility now lying idle at the Apapa port, as it would enhance the inspection of goods at the port.
Managing Director of APM Terminals Apapa Limited, Mr. Dallas Hampton, who gave the charge while interacting with journalists in Lagos recently said the facility was specially built by his company three years ago to provide decent and conducive office accommodation to customs officials and also serve as facility for the physical inspection of containers related perations at the terminal.
He, however, lamented that despite the huge investment of $4 million (about N640 million) made by his company in building the facility, Customs had refused to use it, rather preferring to use a makeshift open area thus subjecting importers and their agents to the elements of weather.
Hampton said the multi-million-naira Customs building has 14 container examination bays and 235 square metres net office area all built to British standard and fully equipped with modem electronic gadgets and information technology.
He urged the new Customs Area Controller of the command to utilise the facility to reduce the unnecessary exposure of his men and port users to unfriendly weather conditions.
Hampton also disclosed that due to the unusually high rate of physical examination of containers by NCS operatives, APM Terminals Apapa was constructing a new physical inspection facility, which had necessitated a fresh investment of additional $10 million (about Nl.6 billion).
He said the facility, the first of its kind in the world, would utilise a multi- level racking system operated by yard cranes.
The new revolutionary multi-level racking inspection system is being constructed in China and would be delivered to the terminal before the end of this quarter.
Born out tof the need to cope with the abnormally high rate of physical examination of containers by Customs, the facility is part of Phase 3 of the modemisation and upgrading of APM Terminals Apapa, which includes terminal yard redevelopment and expansion, including new staff amenities and customer service building, acquisition of additional container handling equipment and implementation of new terminal operating systems.
Hampton said that the expansion project will also convert the terminal to full
Rubber- Tyred-Gantry (RTG) operations, and includes purchase of additional container handling equipment, a new customer service building, new employee amenities buildings as well as office for Nigeria Customs, and a new Customs container inspection area.
“The project will also include state of the art terminal control systems including a satellite based container positioning system,” he said.
Hampton also said that his company has more than enough cargo handling equipment. He said APM Terminals operates with more than 1.5 times the amount of equipment required for a facility the same size elsewhere.
He said no terminal operator in the country can match the expertise and volume of investment of APM Terminals in Apapa.
He urged importers to embrace honest declaration as a way of reducing the high rate of physical examination of goods at the port, which he said greatly,
The Nigerian Navy Forward Operation Base (FOB), Badagry, says its gallant officers have rescued nine women from the hands of suspected human traffickers.
FOB said the suspects have been handed over to the National Agency for prohibition of Human trafficking in Person (NAPTIP) for prosecution.
This was disclosed to newsmen in a statement by the Base Information Officer, Litunent B. Awodeyi, in Lagos.
Awodeyi said the first interception of the women was during a stop and search operation by the Quick Response Team (QRT) of the Command in a boat traveling to mile 2 and Panshi Jetty in Lagos State were five women between the ages of 19 and 32 were rescued.
The statement further said four women were also rescued by QRT two days later in a boat along Tongeji Island in Badagry, with the ages of victims ranging from 19 to 24 years.
Awodeyi said the rescued suspects were under investigation in line with the 2016 Harmonised Standard Procedures on arrest.
Although the names of the suspects were not made public by FOB, it insisted that the operation reflects Navy’s dedication to combating human trafficking and ensuring a secure maritime environment in line with the Chief of Naval Staff’s strategic directive 2023 and 2026.
The directive, Awodeyi said, is aimed at promoting safety in Nigeria’s waters and the Gulf of Guinea (GOG).
The Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN), led by its President-General, Comrade Adewale Adeyanju, has announced plans to embark on a nationwide strike, if the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) fails to pay nine months of salary arrears owed its employees.
Adeyanju said the affected workers are members of MWUN, and accused CRFFN management of neglecting its financial responsibilities.
MWUN in a statement by its Head of Media, Comrade John Kennedy Ikemefuna, expressed deep dissatisfaction with the actions of the CRFFN’s Acting Registrar.
The statement noted that MWUN had exhausted all available options for negotiation, including issuing several ultimatums, but that the efforts were ignored by the management of CRFFN.
“The most recent attempt at mediation occurred in Abuja on September 18, 2024, yet no progress was made in resolving the matter”, it said.
The statement criticised CRFFN for disregarding a crucial resolution reached during the mediation meetings.
According to Ikemefuna, one of the resolutions stipulated that when funds become available to the CRFFN, the payment of employees’ salaries should be prioritis ed.
The statement further noted that CRFFN diverted available funds to conduct what it described as a “kangaroo” training programme for select staff members, leaving the issue of unpaid salaries unaddressed.
“This is a clear violation of the agreements reached”, it emphasised.
The Union said CRFFN’s actions have deepened the financial challenges faced by its members, hence MWUN expressed disappointment that, despite their willingness to cooperate with the CRFFN management, the regulatory body has continued to act in a manner that undermines the rights and welfare of its members.
The workers union, therefore, insisted that it would no longer tolerate the perceived impunity of the CRFFN and declared that if the outstanding nine months salary arrears are not paid, it would have no choice but to initiate a total withdrawal of its members from services.
“This action would impact key sectors of Nigeria’s maritime industry, including the Nigerian Ports Authority, dock labour, shipping and freight forwarding agencies, as well as seamen working across all ports, jetties, terminals, and oil and gas platforms”, Ikemefuna stated.
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Apapa Command, has thwarted a smuggling attempt of N1.1billion illicit drugs in four containers at Apapa Port.
The four seized containers were filled with narcotics valued at N1,183,915,500.
The Command’s Area Controller, Comptroller Babatunde Olomu, disclosed this to newsmen through its Public Relations Officer, Mr. Abubakar Usman.
The seizure involved 236,783 bottles of cough syrups containing codeine and Barcadin, packed in a total of 2,174 cartons from two terminals under the command’s jurisdiction.
Three other seizures were made at APM Terminals, while one was intercepted at Kachicares Bonded Terminal.
Comptroller Olomu explained that, “On October 11, 2024, during a joint inspection of a 1×40 container, number MRKU0377493, our officers discovered prohibited CSP cough syrup—34,800 bottles packed into 174 cartons, each containing 200 bottles.
“The shipment was expired at the time of interception”.
The statement said on the same day, another 1×40 container, number TGBU8886020, was found with 39,700 bottles of DSP cough syrup, packed in cartons containing 100 bottles each.
Additionally, a third container (TCKU6800526) examined on October 15, 2024, at APMT Terminal, labelled as containing essential goods, revealed 19 cartons of concealed CSJ cough syrup for throat and chest with codeine, packed in 200 bottles per carton.
Another major seizure was recorded on October 15, 2024, at Kachicares Resources Terminal: A 1×40FT container, number SUDU8579006, declared as containing kitchen wares, was found with a concealed stash of Barcadin cough syrup in 1,584 cartons, along with 83 loose bottles.
Comptroller Olomu described the seizures as part of the NCS’ zero-tolerance policy toward smuggling.
Apapa Command, he said, “is committed to efficient trade facilitation while maintaining strict controls on revenue collection and anti-smuggling activities.
”I urge those engaged in illegal trade to avoid Apapa Port. Our vigilant officers, using intelligence, technology, and experience, are poised to detect and intercept any smuggling attempts”.
He insisted that Codeine abuse has been linked to severe side effects, including drowsiness, confusion, and increased susceptibility to criminal behaviors.
“The Nigerian government banned the importation of codeine-containing cough syrups in 2018 after widespread misuse among youth”, he noted.
The Comptroller said further investigations are underway to identify and apprehend the individuals behind the smuggling attempts.
