APFFLON urges Customs to speed up transire reconciliation at bonded terminals

The Africa Association of Professional Freight Forwarders and Logistics of Nigeria (APFFLON) has appealed to the Nigeria Customs Service to ensure that the ongoing verification and reconciliation of bonded terminals on transires is transparent, time-bound and concluded as quickly as possible, particularly where legitimate businesses and compliant freight forwarders may be affected.

The Service had issued directive ordering the immediate suspension of transire processing to affected bonded warehouses and Free Trade Zones with outstanding transire reconciliation.

The directive is aimed at addressing outstanding duty/transire positions before further transactions are permitted. It is being carrying out by the CGC Task Force.

Reacting to the development, APFFLON National President, Otunba Frank Ogunojemite, said the Association supports proper reconciliation and accountability within the customs system, stressing that effective control mechanisms are essential for revenue protection and trade facilitation.

“We support reconciliation and accountability, but the process must not unnecessarily paralyse legitimate trade. Where discrepancies are established, those responsible should be made to account, while compliant operators should not suffer indefinite operational restrictions.”

Otunba Ogunojemite further urged the Customs Service to maintain clear communication with affected bonded warehouses, terminal operators, Free Trade Zones and licensed customs agents throughout the exercise.

He said APFFLON is particularly concerned about the possible impact of prolonged suspension on cargo movement, storage costs, demurrage, supply chains and the wider economy.

The APFFLON President therefore called on the Customs Special Task Force and affected operators to work together to complete the reconciliation promptly, with restoration of transire privileges immediately upon satisfactory clearance.

“Our position is simple: strengthen compliance, recover legitimate revenue and protect the integrity of the system, but do so without creating avoidable bottlenecks that ultimately transfer additional costs to Nigerian businesses and consumers.”