Anxiety At Tin Can , As Freight Forwarders Decry Single  Scanning  Machine For Cargo Examination

Barely two weeks of operational activities in Lagos ports, freight forwarders have decried the slow pace of the Non Intrusive Inspection (scanners) performances at the two seaports in Lagos , mostly as it affects Tin Can Island Port Complex TCIPC.

With one scanner  deployed to TCIPC despite high volume of containers, indications further emerged that 100% cargo physical examination cannot be eliminated completely.

The four terminals, namely –  Ports and Cargo Handling Services Limited,Five Star Logistics Terminal, PTML and TICT are to struggle with the only scanner deployed to the port in line with trade facilitation.

The freight forwarders under the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), 100% Compliance Team, lamented that  some operators may  frustrate  the scanners usage at the Lagos Ports Complex (LPC) and Tin Can Island Ports Complex (TCIPC) respectively,due to the limited number noting that more scanners should be deployed to the ports for effective utilisation.

Speaking at a press briefing ,in Lagos, National Co-ordinator, NAGAFF 100% Compliance Team,Alhaji Tanko Ibrahim queried how four terminal operators at TCIPC would be able to cope with just one scanner.

According to him, TCIPC may suffer major setbacks on scanning of boxes noting, that there are multiple terminal operators at the port that handle containers with only a singular scanner for examination which in turn may create more problems for cargo clearance.

He said the process has already led to  undue delay and multiple charges at the scanning site adding that freight agents can assist the system with their own trucks.

The National Chairman noted that the recent reintroduction of scanning machines in the clearing process was a welcome development but has turned into a nightmare for his teeming members.

According to a letter sent to the National Security Adviser and copied to the Area Controller, Apapa Customs command, and the Managing Director, APMT, Tanko said that his team has evidence of immense sabotage by some terminals  which did not arise from lack of capacity.

The 100% Compliance  team boss stressed that the scanning machine can handle over three hundred containers in less than eight hours, but that some of the terminal operators’ strategy to charge demurrage is the cause of artificial delay.

“For personal gains, an extortion ring exists between the scanning manager, the plant driver and the truck driver where we pay not less than N50,000 as a bribe for our containers to be loaded for scanning.

‘To scan your container takes a lot of time and resources, often resulting in multiple charges and attendant demurrage.

“We recall several incidents of container broaches in connivance with criminals involving the import of Tramadol using their company ambulance.

“Several containers of the illicit drugs were also traced to some of their staff.

“Containers of arms and ammunition were also traced to their staff,” the Compliance Team alleged.

Narrating the ordeals being faced by freight forwarders, Tanko alleged that if a container fails the scanning test, the agent is compelled to make another payment for physical examination.

This, it said can take days if not weeks for the box to be positioned If one is lucky to have completed the release process, after which he will again compete to pay for loading.

“This has been taking a lot of stress and expenses on our teeming members.

“If a box waits for up to a month to be scanned, then the intention of facilitating trade has been defeated,” the Compliance Team noted.

He said it has been bearing the brunt and may no longer contain the restiveness brewing among its members.

“We write our TDO and take the containers to the scanning site using our own trucks;

“If it is suspect, it is taken to the platform for physical examination from where it is released and the container exits the port.

 

“If it is marked ‘seizure, it is immediately taken to enforcement.

 

The Tanko-led team averred that the suggestions above will reduce acute shortcomings being experienced.

 

It urged the National Security Adviser and others concerned to consider the above suggestions aimed at decongesting the ports, especially the scanning site machine fraud at APMT.

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) had revealed that the new Non-Intrusive Inspection (NII) regime (scanners) can only handle 400 containers daily.

 

The scanners which were purchased at the cost of $120 million (N52billion) by the federal government were left to rot away partly because there was no diesel to run generators to power them at the ports and land border posts.

 

 

The deployment of the much talked about scanner is expected to bring a positive shift in cargo clearance, eliminate delays and enhance timely delivery of cargoes to owners by clearing agents.

 

The deployment is expected to eliminate 100 per cent examination, which allows importers to incur huge demurrage and storage charges from shipping companies and terminal operators.

 

Addressing stakeholders on Thursday in Lagos during a sensitisation meeting held with port stakeholders , Assistant Comptroller General of Customs on Modernisation and ICT, Saidu Galadima, said the scanners will have four hours of rest every day.

 

The ACG disclosed that the scanners will scan 400 containers daily with four hours to rest. For every 20 feet container, the scanner will take an average of 35 seconds each to scan. For every 40ft container, the scanners will scan them at an average of 55 seconds each.

 

 

By Roland Ekama