The Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) has issued a warning regarding planned protests against specific shipping firms over accusations of tampering with ship manifests. The group cautions that these actions threaten port stability and national economic health. Former ANLCA Vice President Kayode Farinto has singled out the Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) and Hapag-Lloyd, alleging their operational habits facilitate corruption and hinder the cargo clearance workflow.
Farinto claims these companies provide electronic manifests suggesting total cargo discharge in Nigeria, despite leaving containers at regional hubs like Cotonou or Côte d’Ivoire. When the remaining goods arrive later, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) classifies them as abandoned because the initial manifest documentation remains uncorrected. This discrepancy forces importers into physical clearance processes, which Farinto asserts creates opportunities for extortion.
He is calling on the NCS to leverage the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023 to penalize these shipping lines. If the situation remains unresolved within two weeks, the association plans to initiate further actions. While MSC official Dimeji Gbadebo noted he required more information to address the claims, attempts to reach Hapag-Lloyd for comment were unsuccessful.
