It has been observed that the Federal Government allegedly loses over N100 billion annually due to the activities of foreign freight forwarding firms doing business in Nigeria.

The observation was made by the Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) chieftain and chairman, Association of Electoral Commission (ASECO), Prince Olayiwola Shittu recently in Lagos.

He said the high loss Nigeria is experiencing as a result of foreigners involvement from freight forwarding was because the foreign operators also have their bonded terminals and move any consignment from the port unchecked.

Shittu, who is also the Managing Director of Skella Group, pointed out that the N650 billion revenue target given to the management of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) in 2009 was achievable but for the leakages in the system.

According to the indigenous freight forwarder, although there are leakages, NCS has been able  to block some of the loopholes from which  there had been revenue leakage in the past.

“Even in overseas countries leakages are always there, but the cleanest operators are the foreigners.  This is because they have the money to invest in any business they want. They have their own bonded terminals and as a result, they camp cargo from anywhere and apply for their bonded terminal to receive it.  On receiving that cargo, I know that it is custom officers that are the ones to do inspection because they are in charge of declaration, but everyone has a price.

“With the collusion of hungry customs officers I am telling you government will lose not less than N100 billion annually due to the involvement of foreigners in freight forwarding.  This projection will continue to increase as the volume of business also increases”, he said.

According to Shittu, the average security personnel at the port gives more respect and recognition to a foreigner than a Nigerian should both of them be looking for the same thing from the officers.  As a way out of the challenge, he said that there was need for all stakeholders in the maritime industry to have a new orientation in the way and manner they go about their business.  This new orientation, he added, should cut across all segments in the freight forwarding business

“Every one concerned in this business, whether government officials, security agents or shipping practitioners must imbibe this new orientation to always do the right thing as it is obtainable in the developed maritime world.

Besides, government must make it a deliberate policy to make freight forwarders as part of the security network.

“Until then, there is nothing we can do.  If we want to copy what is good, you must be a Nigerian before you can go into freight forwarding, whereas as I told you, our lives have been deregulated by the government. I have come to a stage in my life where I don’t need to crack my brain for the problem of Nigeria”, Shittu stressed.