Refusal of British Airways, Ethiopian Airlines, Turkish Airways, others to transmit cargo manifests to Customs disrupts supply chain – APFFLON

The Africa Association of Professional Freight Forwarders and Logistics of Nigeria (APFFLON) has raised alarms over the refusal of Ethiopian Airline, British Airways, Lufthansa, Air France and Turkish Airways to transit their cargo manifests to the Nigeria Customs Service at Lagos and Abuja airports.

APFFLON said this non-transmission of cargo manifests by these airlines has caused disruption in the supply chain leading to congestion, delay in clearance of goods, and heavy demurrage and storage charges for freight forwarders, importers, and logistics stakeholders operating at the two airports.

APFFLON has therefore called on the Nigeria Customs Service, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), and Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to immediately bar these airlines from discharging cargo until they comply and fulfill the necessary statutory obligations.

It would be recalled that the Customs Area Controller of Murtala Mohammed International Airport Cargo Command, Comptroller Michael Toyin Awe, in a recent media interview, said he had threatened to stop airlines that failed to transmit their cargo manifests to the Customs platform from discharging. Surprisingly and despite the Awe’s threat, the airlines are still discharging without transmission of their manifests.

Addressing the press in Lagos today, the APFFLON National President, Otunba Frank Ogunojemite, condemned this uncooperative stance of the airlines, pointing out that despite repeated appeals and engagements with the airlines and other relevant stakeholders, the airlines have adamantly refused to transmit their cargo manifests to the Customs B’Odogwu platform.

As a result of this, Ogunojemite said the Customs officials are helpless and could not clear and release cargo to the owners. “The absence of submitted manifests on the approved B’Odogwu digital platform means that customs officers are unable to assess or clear cargo efficiently, leaving consignments stranded and importers helpless,” said he.

Still on the consequences of non-compliance by the airlines, Frank Ogunojemite said disruption has resulted in business losses, customer dissatisfaction, and reputational damage for those affected.

APFFLON President said “As a key stakeholder and advocate for efficient trade facilitation, APFFLON strongly condemns the continued neglect and disregard by any airline that fails to comply with the customs automation process.

“We call on the Nigeria Customs Service, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), and Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to urgently intervene and compel full compliance from all airlines.”

Calling for a stakeholders’ roundtable, including Customs, airlines, cargo handling companies, and freight forwarders, to address the technical and administrative barriers to seamless manifest transmission, the association demanded for compensation or demurrage waivers for affected importers whose cargo has been delayed as a result of airline negligence.

“APFFLON remains committed to promoting transparency, professionalism, and efficiency in the freight and logistics industry. We urge all media houses and relevant authorities to treat this issue as a matter of national economic importance.

“The suffering of Nigerian importers and freight agents at the Abuja Airport must not continue unchecked. No single entity should be allowed to sabotage the progress made in customs automation and ease of doing business,” Ogunojemite submitted.