Demurrage: APFFLON Threatens to Drag Customs To Court Over Protracted Server Failures

By DAPO OLAWUNI

Following the challenges currently faced by freight Forwarders and their importers as a result of constant server failure, Africa Association of Professional Freight Forwarders and Logistics of Nigeria (APFFLON), says it is ready to take the Nigeria Customs to court.

DAILY TREND NEWS had reported exclusively recently that the Customs servers have been epileptic for several days, a situation which port operators blamed on service providers to the Nigeria Customs Service; Web Fontaine

In a statement sent to our correspondent on Sunday and signed by APFFLON President, Otunba Frank Ogunojemite, the recurring server failure in Customs operations has grossly hindered freight forwarders and their importers from taking delivery of their consignments in good time, even as shipping and terminal charges accrue.

Also, calls by freight agents on the Federal Government to fire Customs internet service provider, Messsrs Webb Fountaine, for alleged incompetence have continued without violence.

“It has been substantiated that the server failure has grossly affected the revenue drive of various Customs commands, leaving marks of frustration on the faces of Customs Area Controllers who unfortunately, have no immediate solution to the challenge.

“Association of Professional Freight Forwarders and Logistics of Nigeria ( APFFLON), has said it would file a lawsuit against Nigeria Customs Service, on behalf of Freight Forwarders, to insure that they recover every Kobo they lost due to server failure within the period.

“We are prepared to assist the affected freight forwarders, we urge them to come forth with their claims backed up with documented facts in this regard. Or send relevant information to [email protected] ; or through WhatsApp, +2347065557987; or call +234703465085 to lodge any complaint related to the subject matter. The person can as well visit APFFLON SECRETARIAT at 29, Atinuke Olabanji Street, off Obafemi Awolowo way,Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria.

“As an advocacy group in Aviation and Maritime we advised those having delivery challenges occasioned by server failure, to state how long it took them to capture their SGD; additional storage charge incurred; as well as other difficulties associated with it, assuring them that their right to litigation can be fully exercised if they would join APFFLON to seek redress, promising to recover in full, every additional cost associated with the challenge, provided the agent tenders the documents via the aforementioned links” he stated

APFFLON, in the statement, vowed to always stand up against injustice meted out to freight forwarders in the course of carrying out their professional duties.

The association called on the Federal Government to immediately sack the Nigeria Customs internet service providers, Messrs. Webb Fountain, for gross incompetence which it said, has grossly jeopardized its policy on Ease of Doing Business, as well as hindered trade facilitation.

“As an advocacy group, we are filing a lawsuit against the Nigeria Customs and their clients, so as to get justice for those freight Forwarders who have all these while lost both man-hours and resources due to server failure, which is not in anyway a fault of theirs. We are beckoning on anyone with genuine documents, that was cut in the web of this challenge to come forth and join APFFLON in the litigation” the statement read