Following the recent protest and shutting down of clearing operations at Onne Port for one week by members of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), over what they described as intimidation and imposition of charges by men of Area 2 Customs Service, Onne Port, the agents have resumed clearing operations while asking customs to meet their demands.Following the recent protest and shutting down of clearing operations at Onne Port for one week by members of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), over what they described as intimidation and imposition of charges by men of Area 2 Customs Service, Onne Port, the agents have resumed clearing operations while asking customs to meet their demands.

It would be recalled that barely two weeks after the Presidential Joint Task Force set-up to conduct physical examination of all cargoes at the customs ports and airports wound up its business at the Onne port in Eleme local government area of rivers State, over 400 protesters of ANLCA last Wednesday, towing a casket which they dumped at the gate of the Area 2 Nigeria Customs Service office in Onne, said they carried out the action when it became apparent that nobody was willing to listen to their demands after about two days of protest. They demanded for N10 million for the removal of the coffin.It would be recalled that barely two weeks after the Presidential Joint Task Force set-up to conduct physical examination of all cargoes at the customs ports and airports wound up its business at the Onne port in Eleme local government area of rivers State, over 400 protesters of ANLCA last Wednesday, towing a casket which they dumped at the gate of the Area 2 Nigeria Customs Service office in Onne, said they carried out the action when it became apparent that nobody was willing to listen to their demands after about two days of protest. They demanded for N10 million for the removal of the coffin.

The agents alleged that Comptroller Dan Ugoh and his associate, Abdul Lawani, were the brains behind corrupt practices of extortions, intentional delay of containers, issuing  debit notes, dumping of containers at the ware house and refusal of Customs to give them their own share of seven per cent total revenue on goods cleared, as well as high cost of clearing goods at Onne Port compared to Western Ports (Tin CAN/Apapa ports).The agents alleged that Comptroller Dan Ugoh and his associate, Abdul Lawani, were the brains behind corrupt practices of extortions, intentional delay of containers, issuing  debit notes, dumping of containers at the ware house and refusal of Customs to give them their own share of seven per cent total revenue on goods cleared, as well as high cost of clearing goods at Onne Port compared to Western Ports (Tin CAN/Apapa ports).  ANLCA lamented over Dan Ugoh’s inability to dialogue with the leadership on a 10-point agenda submitted to him, based on the existing working relationship.ANLCA lamented over Dan Ugoh’s inability to dialogue with the leadership on a 10-point agenda submitted to him, based on the existing working relationship.

In his reaction, the Customs image marker, CPRO Invekim Eyo who represented the CAC told newsmen that the CAC did not constitute a new taskforce at Onne Port, but rather the Comptroller-General’s task force that had been dissolved.