WHARF RATS: Freight Forwarder Decries Rising Cases Of Cargo Vandalisation At Lagos Port.

Freight forwarders  in the maritime industry have expressed concerns over the rising cases of criminal elements at the nation’s premier seaport , mostly as it affects container broaching by suspected wharf rats.

 

The freight agents lamented that they have lost a large number of cargoes in the process of examination at the port due to the illegalities perpetrated by wharf rats

 

National Coordinator, NAGAFF 100% Compliance Team, Alhaji Ibrahim Tanko  made this known while briefing the press on the out come of a security meeting held at the Customs Area Controller’s office recently in Apapa, Lagos Nigeria.

 

 

The Coordinator stated that number of times the containers seized by Nigeria Customs Service, kept at designated area were broken by these wharf rats , carted away with the cargoes especially items like tramadol.

 

The 100% Compliance Team Coordinator who was the convener of the meeting, described the neferous activities as an organised crime , and  called for drastic step to be taken to flush out these miscreants from the port.

 

 

He called for crowd control at the port adding that “There is need to reduce crowd at the examination bay.

 

 

According to him, “We observed that about 50 – 60 people sleep in APMT platform. One day a freight forwarder was traced from the platform to his house and in the process The police investigations showed the suspect was one of those who do sleep on that platform. The APM Terminal is not a sleeping place nor a football field. Those doing that should stop

 

“Everybody has a role to play both the Nigeria Police, Nigeria Customs Service, NPA, DSS and others. APM Terminal are not the owners of the port, rather partners. Since the platform housing Customs offices now belong to Customs as I am  made to understand,  Customs should then take charge.

 

Reacting on the precarious security situation at the port, according to him, the Customs Area Controller, Apapa Premier Command, Comptroller Yusuf Malanta  commended the Convener of the meeting, Alhaji Ibrahim Tanko for his concerns and initiatives

 

He also disclosed that the freight agents have  lost items in the name of sampling.

 

 

 

Tanko maintained that”We are loosing a lot of money as a result of sampling. Almost all the agencies, Customs, NDLEA, DSS, Labour take samples when it is the duty of NAFDAC and SON that officially has the right to  take sample items after which they are returned to their owners and there are procedures for sampling.This is what we are suffering here”, he said.

 

Comptroller Malanta was quoted saying that his command had already taken steps to reduce the crowd by introducing Customs permit Tag for customs examination officers, adding that  officers who are to conduct examinations of containers cannot access the bay without the tag which will have the officers picture and name.

 

 

Continuing he said they had also created tags for clearing agents whose consignments had been positioned for examination, as well as repositioning some enforcement officers to secure the platform.

 

Those who attended the meeting include , the CAC, Apapa Command, Controller Yusuf Malanta, The Port Police Commissioner, the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) represented by Chief Security officer, the DSS, Micura Services the Contractor of Labour,  President Dockworkers Branch,  Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria ,APMT officials, NAGAFF,  and AREFFN,