Nigerian freight forwarders have lamented excessive bureaucracy in the nations seaports saying it is slowing down business activities.
In a bid to boost businesses at Nigerian seaports Vice President Yemi Osinbajo signed Executive Order on Ease of Doing Business.
At the just concluded second quarter general meeting of the Shippers Association recently in Abuja, Secretary of the National Freight Haulers Association (NFHA) FCT chapter Amobi Adukwu saidthe Executive Order signed by the Vice President has not yielded the desired result.
He said the business environment for shippers in the country has not been easy.
They lamented that while it takes one week to clear goods at the seaports in Benin Republic and Togo, it takes over a months to clear goods in Nigeria.
He said “The customs need to be rejig because often time after they have finished inspection and goods taken, they still retain the containers so that you continue to pay demurrage on it and at the end of the day you lose it.
“It does not happen in other ports especially in the neighboring countries and that is why Nigeria is losing market” he lamented.
Adukwu said the signing of the Continental Free Trade Agreement by President would further make shippers abandon Nigeria Ports and start using ports in neighboring countries.
However, the Chairman of Alllaj Dikko Logistics Allah Dikko says the Executive Order on Ease of Doing Business would work effectively if exporters follow the right channel.
He said “This Trade.com federal government platform based on the Executive Order on Ease of doing business is really working so ones an importer or exporter keys into that program and you offload your cargo laden on the ship or aircraft, your bill of laden is sent into the country, it would be chart, evaluate and if all the necessary changes is paid, ones it gets to the ports it is as good as been cleared.”.
He further explained “At the point of loading your container, the bill of laden should available to whichever custom officer that will do your clearing for you. It takes about 21 days for goods to arrive Nigerian seaport and within that period all necessary dues should have been paid and by the time it comes the shipment inspection is done and if what you have on your bill of laden is the same with what is in your container then there won’t be issues.'”
