How to Handle Non-CRI Cargoes, By Freight Forwarders
By Francis Ugwoke
Freight Forwaders Forum International (FFFI) have called on the Federal Government to allow the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) to handle the issue of goods which came into the country without Clean Report of Inspection (Non-CRI) instead of involving pre-shipment inspection agents.
Chairman, Board of Trustees of the Forum, Chief Peter Obi told THISDAY that this should be so once government takes a decision on the clearing of such goods.
Obi explained that this will save the importers the time waste experienced in the past when pre-shipment inspection agents (PIAs) were involved.
"We had an experience in which after examination, it takes three months before you receive your local CRIs", he said.
He added, "in 2001, it was Customs that handled it alone and it was faster. Within two days, you get your CRI and ready to pay duties".
Obi said that many importers were not able to clear all their containers because of the delay of the PIAs as at May 31 when the deadline ended.
Noting that there was nothing wrong with import prohibition announced this year, Obi however reminded the government of the fact that some of such goods had been ordered before the policy was introduced.
"We thank government for the 90 days given , but many are still having their containers uncleared at the ports because they were on the way before the ban. We want government to be magnanimous enough to allow owners to clear them", he said.
The Forum Chairman also lauded the management of the Nigeria Customs Service for its successes so far in bringing about some reform measures in the ports industry.
The ports industry, accoding to him, has taken a new shape as far as goods delivery is concerned, adding that this has been due to some reform measures introduced by the Customs.
"Everyone is being careful now - so that the talk of the day is reform", he said.
Obi explained that the agents have equally joined the Service reforming themselves through the establishment of FFFI.
He stated so many malpractices have been reduced drastically in the process of clearing goods at the ports.
"We have seen his efforts at sanitizing operations at the ports, and he is succeeding. What we are also doing is to join him in also educating our importers on the need to observe rules and regulations as far as import business is concerned. We are carrying out a campaign to educate agents on the need to embrace the reform in the ports. The only way we can assist the Customs is to get agents reformed.", he said.
"FFFI is a group of freight forwarders which aim is to sanitise the system in our port. Members of NAGAFF, ANLCA and ASSOFF are all members. We are working on getting the various leaders to be part of the new body. Members of the Forum are movers and shakers of the industry", he said.
The group of freight forwarders recently visited the Minister of State for Finance, Mrs Esther Nenadi Usman during which they appealed to the Federal Government to allow importers of goods which came into the country wihout Clean Report of Inspection (non-CRI) to take delivery under what they described as "contract of deal".
The group also asked the government to allow the release of goods which entered into the counry before they were listed into the prohibition list.
It would be recalled that government had allowed importers take delivery of such goods in the past.
But President of the Forum, Chief Sam Okeke told Mrs Usman, during the courtesy visit, that many importers were not able to clear their goods within the time allowed by the government
Okeke pointed out that the issue of contraband has been a recurring decimal in the "intricate relationship between importers and the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), and freight forwarders.
"WE appreciate and thank you for the recent concession granted to the importers of goods which are hitherto not contraband and non-CRI foods to clear and remove all such goods. We are aware that the time for the concession has expired with many of the containers still trapped at the ports.", he told the Minister.
Okeke informed the Minister that over 20,000 containers were still trapped at the various ports in the country.
He adduced several reasons, including delay by the Inspection agents in issuing local CRI after the examination of the affected containers as responsible for the inability of importers of these containers to clear and remove them within the given deadline.
Other reasons according to him, were the manner of block-stacking of containers at the terminal, multiplicity of charges involved in clearing one single container, too much intervention in the clearing process by government agencies and insufficient operational equipment at the ports.
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