The National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) 100% Compliance Team has sounded the alarm over persistent operational bottlenecks affecting trade facilitation at Nigeria’s ports.
Despite recent policy reforms introduced by the Comptroller General of Customs, freight forwarders face daily frustrations, financial losses, and inefficiencies in the B’Odogwu platform.
Ibrahim Tanko, National Coordinator of the 100% Compliance Team, expressed concerns over the challenges, citing frequent network failures, delays in issuing debit notes, and misrouted containers. “We bear the brunt while making money for terminal operators. Enough is enough”, Tanko stated, emphasising the need for relief.
The team criticised shipping and terminal operators for allegedly lobbying for increased charges without resolving operational delays. Tanko condemned the practice of imposing demurrage fees even when shippers were granted free days, warning that freight forwarders would resist any further hikes in charges.
Furthermore, NAGAFF expressed concerns over the overreach of certain government agencies, including the Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC). These
agencies allegedly place holds on containers and seize goods beyond their statutory mandates.
Tanko called on authorities to urgently address these issues, stating, “Our concerns are not complaints—they are constructive feedback to help the system work better”. The 100% Compliance Team reaffirmed its commitment to sustainable freight forwarding practices and urged all stakeholders to work collaboratively toward a more efficient and transparent port system.
The introduction of the new Single Window platform is imminent, and NAGAFF’s concerns highlighted the need for stakeholders to address these issues before its implementation.