Maritime
Customs Releases 40 Trucks Of Seized Woods
The Association of Mari
time Truck Owners (AMARTO) said on Tuesday, that the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) had ordered the release of 40 trucks of unprocessed woods impounded from its members.
The Chairman of AMARTO, Chief Remi Ogungbemi, told newsmen in Lagos that the trucks were impounded by the Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone ‘A’ in Ikeja.
He said that the trucks were seized between October 2015 and February 2016 on their way to the ports, carrying unprocessed woods classified under the Customs Export Prohibition List.
The AMARTO boss said that the association was introducing an indemnity form for its members in order to exonerate them whenever they are accosted by Customs.
“This is to be done in collaboration with the Association of Woods Exports and Processing and the Nigeria Customs Service,” he said.
Ogungbemi said that some shippers and clearing agents were the causes of problems faced by truckers because most of them failed to declare correctly what they were carrying for either export or import.
The AMARTO boss expressed gratitude to the Comptroller-General of Customs, Retired Col. Hameed Ali, and other customs officers at the headquarters in Abuja for their magnanimity in releasing the seized trucks.
He said that owners of the trucks and their businesses had been stranded since the trucks were impounded.
“More than 40 trucks were impounded, some were seized at FOU, Tin-Can Island and Apapa but majority of the trucks are at FOU Ikeja.
“Tomorrow we would go to Ikeja to take inventory and take stock of the trucks there and process their release. This will require us hiring a crane to put the containers down,’’ Ogungbemi said.
He explained that the management of Customs intervened, adding that after findings and investigations, they discovered that truck drivers were not the shippers and that the drivers were not involved.
“Out of their (NCS) magnanimity, Customs ordered the release of the trucks.
“Our members are suffering and falling victims because an unscrupulous shipper will not tell Customs what they are exporting or importing.
“I am highly impressed that the management of Customs deemed it fit to send somebody from Abuja. The person came to brief and educated us on what and what we should be carrying,” the AMARTO boss said..
Speaking on the introduction of indemnity form for truckers, Ogungbemi said the form was free.
“Our members would not know which one is legitimate and which one is illegitimate.
“This is why we have come up with an indemnity form which will contain all the information about the agent, the importer, the loading point and the agency name,’’ the AMARTO boss said.
According to him, this is to ensure that if our trucks are accosted, through the form, the authority will know all the information about the cargo”
“Most times, truck drivers do not know their importers or the agents of the cargoes but with the indemnity form they will know all information about the cargo they carry.
“We want to indemnify our members and this is why we are embarking on the use of forms.
“We will go further to seek audience with the management of Nigeria Customs Service to approve and authorise the form so that it would become a condition by which all trucks would be allowed into the port to load or discharge cargoes.
“Shippers should declare correctly what is going out or coming into the country. They are the people giving us all these problems and not the Customs.
“If all shippers can be honest, there would be no need for Customs to arrest our members,’’ The Tide source further quotes him as saying.
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.
