Is Era of ‘Flying Containers’ Back to Lagos Ports?
LAGOS PORT
*Freight forwarders task Tin Can Customs Command over Clarion Bonded Terminal ‘missing container’ incident
By Francis Ugwoke
The era of containers being ‘cleared’ without necessary documentations may have returned to the Lagos seaports.
But in the past, such goods were simply contraband whose owners paid heavily to remove them out of the prying eyes of relevant operatives.
This was before the concessioning of the seaports to private operators and referred to simply as ‘flying’.
A syndicate, it was gathered, then specialized in removing such goods out of the ports for heavy settlement.
Observers believe that a similar ‘flying container’ arrangement appears to have returned with the story being told by a freight forwarder and member of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), Godswill Ojogwu.
Ojogwu who is also a retired Assistant Comptroller of Nigeria Customs Service was among customs agents who protested at the Clarion Bonded Terminal, Alakija, Lagos, over alleged missing containers.
The allegation was that 19 containers were ‘missing or dubiously cleared’ and 14 vehicles seized by the management..
Ojogwu told newsmen that his license was used to clear the 19 missing containers from the Tin Can Island port, an act, he said, was done illegally without his knowledge.
He accused Clarion Terminal of being behind the alleged movement of the containers..
Ojogwu told newsmen on Tuesday, “I am a retired Assistant Comptroller of Customs and on my retirement, I started a freight forwarding company, Ajaji Continental Limited. I’m also a member of NAGAFF.
“Clarion used my license fraudulently in 2018. When I discovered, I noticed that the bonded terminal used my license to steal 19 containers from Tin Can Island port.
“These containers were moved as bonded transfer goods. They were supposed to move from Tin Can to Clarion but documents show that these containers were not released. Subsequently, my license was blocked and I approached Customs who directed my to Clarion who released the containers.
“When I approached Clarion to show me who used my agency, they almost mobbed me when they seized about 14 vehicles duly released by Customs. I approached Clarion with documents showing proper clearance from Customs and the shipping company, urging them to release the containers while we continue the investigation on the mystery 19 containers. Clarion bluntly refused as they demanded that I pay over N8 million demand notice on the missing containers.
“They are linking the 14 vehicles seized to the 19 containers they used my license to clear via a company known as First Degree Multinational Limited. MSC was the shipping company used for that transaction. There is no way goods would leave the port without due process but this was done in a shady manner.
“I wrote to the Area Controller of Tin Can Customs but my documents allegedly got missing on three occasions at Customs. All efforts to find out how this problem emanated have been futile.”
Freight forwarders who spoke under anonymity believe that the containers could not have been moved without the knowledge of the Customs Command in Tin Can Island Port which is yet to clear the air on the level of investigation on the matter.
They said the Customs Service must as a matter of urgency clear the air on the issue and produce details of those who moved the containers..
According to the freight forwarders Clarion Bonded terminal also needs to react to the allegations being raised against it on the issue..
By Francis Ugwoke
The era of containers being ‘cleared’ without necessary documentations may have returned to the Lagos seaports.
But in the past, such goods were simply contraband whose owners paid heavily to remove them out of the prying eyes of relevant operatives.
This was before the concessioning of the seaports to private operators and referred to simply as ‘flying’.
A syndicate, it was gathered, then specialized in removing such goods out of the ports for heavy settlement.
Observers believe that a similar ‘flying container’ arrangement appears to have returned with the story being told by a freight forwarder and member of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), Godswill Ojogwu.
Ojogwu who is also a retired Assistant Comptroller of Nigeria Customs Service was among customs agents who protested at the Clarion Bonded Terminal, Alakija, Lagos, over alleged missing containers.
The allegation was that 19 containers were ‘missing or dubiously cleared’ and 14 vehicles seized by the management..
Ojogwu told newsmen that his license was used to clear the 19 missing containers from the Tin Can Island port, an act, he said, was done illegally without his knowledge.
He accused Clarion Terminal of being behind the alleged movement of the containers..
Ojogwu told newsmen on Tuesday, “I am a retired Assistant Comptroller of Customs and on my retirement, I started a freight forwarding company, Ajaji Continental Limited. I’m also a member of NAGAFF.
“Clarion used my license fraudulently in 2018. When I discovered, I noticed that the bonded terminal used my license to steal 19 containers from Tin Can Island port.
“These containers were moved as bonded transfer goods. They were supposed to move from Tin Can to Clarion but documents show that these containers were not released. Subsequently, my license was blocked and I approached Customs who directed my to Clarion who released the containers.
“When I approached Clarion to show me who used my agency, they almost mobbed me when they seized about 14 vehicles duly released by Customs. I approached Clarion with documents showing proper clearance from Customs and the shipping company, urging them to release the containers while we continue the investigation on the mystery 19 containers. Clarion bluntly refused as they demanded that I pay over N8 million demand notice on the missing containers.
“They are linking the 14 vehicles seized to the 19 containers they used my license to clear via a company known as First Degree Multinational Limited. MSC was the shipping company used for that transaction. There is no way goods would leave the port without due process but this was done in a shady manner.
“I wrote to the Area Controller of Tin Can Customs but my documents allegedly got missing on three occasions at Customs. All efforts to find out how this problem emanated have been futile.”
Freight forwarders who spoke under anonymity believe that the containers could not have been moved without the knowledge of the Customs Command in Tin Can Island Port which is yet to clear the air on the level of investigation on the matter.
They said the Customs Service must as a matter of urgency clear the air on the issue and produce details of those who moved the containers..
According to the freight forwarders Clarion Bonded terminal also needs to react to the allegations being raised against it on the issue..
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