Corruption, bad roads, touting impede port development —ANLCA

Widespread corruption among government, agencies, bad roads and touting are the biggest impediments to cargo clearance at the nation’s seaports, according to the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA).

The National President of ANLCA, Prince Olayiwola Shittu said this while playing host to a delegation of top management officials of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) at the association’s headquarters at Amuwo Odofin, Lagos recently.

According to him, “Corruption also contributes so much to high costs in the port, but sometimes, we are told that NPA gave them approval for increase of charges. We all must put our hands on deck to make our ports more competitive; because the ports are now less competitive. That is why importers use land borders. Our ports are large enough to contain our cargoes.

“Touts take advantage of ignorant importers to defraud them, but our members are not touts. They have clear office locations and are known down to their various villages.”

Responding to the issues raised, Usman said she was at ANLCA headquarters to interact directly with critical stakeholders to see and discuss relevant issues.