AMATO Reacts to IMAN Over Alleged Harassment of Importers, Says Most Nigerian Importers Dont Make Honest Declarations

By DAPO OLAWUNI

The Association of Maritime Truck Owners (AMATO) has lampooned the Importers Association of Nigeria (IMAN) over its recent outcry that there is an unauthorised operations involving illegal arrests, harassment, extortion, and intimidation of importers across the country.

In a statement sent to our correspondent on Friday by the President of AMATO, Chief Remi Ogungbemi, he said that some members of the importers body do not make honest declarations for Customs purposes and that they are responsible for the customs impounding trucks belonging to AMATO members.

Ogungbemi said “some unscrupulous ones amongst them have been pitching us with Customs, in that they are not declaring exactly of what they are having in the Containers they are bringing into the Ports, which form the reason why Customs are arresting, impounding or even auctioning some of our member’s trucks”

The AMATO President said the truckers would be willing to meet with the Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC) as Arbiter and economic regulator, to find a permanent solution to the challenges at a joint meeting with all concerned parties.
IMAN had in a statement by its National President, Kingsley Chikezie, lamented the loss of revenue to both IMAN and the federal government caused by unauthorised activities.