Group Kicks Against NSA End – User Certificate Issuance In Port Operations,

Port activist group,Save Nigeria Freight Forwarders Importers Exporters Coalition has kicked against “End-User Certificate “( EUC ) introduced from the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) in port operations , alleging that the process has created bottlenecks and delay in consignments clearance at the seaports.

An EUC is a document used in international transfers, including sales of arms, weapons and ammunition, to certify that the buyer is the final recipient of the materials, and is not planning on transferring the materials to another party.

National Coordinator of the group, Osita Chukwu Patrick in a chat on Wednesday, lamented that the EUC issuance and processes have slow down the procedures of port operations calling on the national assembly to intervene in ensuring smooth trade facilitation.

Osita averred that the lawmakers should subject the EUC in port operations to public hearing as it has created series of setbacks in the cargo clearance .

The national coordinator said there are modalities to cargo clearance from the nation’s seaports adding that EUC was not captured in the Customs and Excise Management Act (CEMA) ,thus must not be included in the procedures and processes of consignments movement out of the terminals.

Osita who is also the Chairman of International Freight Forwarders Association (IFFA), also threatened that the group would likely seek redress in court for the interpretation of CEMA and the need stop EUC issuance.

He described the certificate as intruder in port operations pointing out that some of the freight agents are ignorant on the implications of the certificate.

According to him, the process of obtaining the certificate is cumbersome and tedious .

He said ” Let allow cargo clearance to be smooth at the seaports and that is what we are saying. We are saying no to the certificate and we want the lawmakers to summon the NSA and we will be in ground to give our own side why it is not proper for port operations.

He noted that cargo are been trapped at the port because of end users certificate and the freight agents are not comfortable with the current trend.