Alh. Ibrahim Tanko
The National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) 100% Compliance Team has raised an alarm against the incessant and indiscriminate interception and subsequent arrest of containers by officers and men of Zone 2 Police Headquarters, Onikan, Lagos.
The office of the National co-ordinator, NAGAFF 100% Compliance Team, in a petition to the Assistant Inspector General (IG) of Police said the officers at the zone have turned themselves maritime Police by always intercepting and arresting containers duly and lawfully processed and exited by the Nigeria Customs.
The Petition alleged that currently containers were intercepted and thereafter arrested by these officers who purportedly are acting on behalf of the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zone 2 Onikan, Lagos.
The Compliance Team, therefore appealed the IG to urgently intervene as NAGAFF members are often than not extorted to the tune of #1,000.000.00 (One million naira) whilst the container are intercepted and arrested by Zone 2 men and officers.
It however, stressed that should there be no immediate intervention to nip this menace in the bud, the freight forwarders may have no option than to go on protest which may result in a possible shutdown of the seaports.
The petition read: “We refer to the above subject matter. Sir, we are sadly constrained and impelled to write this petition to your good office regarding the activities of the officers and men of Zone 2 police headquarters, Onikan, Lagos who have turned themselves to maritime police by always intercepting and arresting containers duly and lawfully processed and exited by the Nigeria Customs.
“Sir even as we write this petition several containers were intercepted and thereafter arrested by these officers who purportedly are acting on behalf of the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zone 2 Onikan, Lagos.
“Sir, we are sincerely taken aback as to why this is happening even where we have a subsisting commissioner of Police in charge of the sea Ports, who is under the supervision of your good office as the Assistant Inspector General of Police.
“We are totally lost and surprised as to the reason or rationale why zone 2 men and officers are now intercepting and arresting containers within your jurisdiction with recourse to your good office.
“Sir, we, as the umbrella body of freight forwarders had in the past, kicked against and protested at such practice where this same zone 2 men and officers often harass agents, intercept and arrest containers duly processed and released by the Nigeria Customs and other government approved agencies in the port, before the abnormal practice was then abated.
“Sir, we want to respectfully, inform you that these practices, which we are of the firm believe that it is not only illegal but also clogging and impeding the timely clearance of containers from the port. We therefore ‘humbly implore you to use your good office and collaborate with your brother AIG, Zone 2, to see that this practice is brought to an end as soon as practicable.
“Moreover. we wish to inform your good self that we were assured by the then AIG Augustina Ogbodo, at Alagbon, during one of our interaction with her, that there exists a circular which bars any other Police department other than Maritime Police from interfering and or-dabbling into any issue relating to the maritime business except they are called to intervene or a petition sent to them.
“Sir, we want to respectfully ask, howbeit rhetorically, what are the men and officers of Zone 2 Onikan looking for in the containers that your men and officers have cleared from the port? We are humbly appealing to you to urgently intervene as our members are often than not extorted to the tune of #1,000.000.00 (One million naira) whilst the container are intercepted and arrested by Zone 2 men and officers.
“We therefore in view of the above, respectfully urge you sir, to call the Zone 2 Police officers to order and save the ports from an imminent restiveness that may paralyse business activities and further cause economic loss to government revenue.
“We may have no option than to go on protest which may result in a possible shutdown of the seaports”.