ANLCA, NAGAFF, AREFFN Others Set To Withdraw Services At Apapa Port Over Customs B’Odogwu Challenges
By DAPO OLAWUNI
The Joint Association of LIcensed Customs Agents and Freight Forwarders operating at the Apapa port have written the Area Controller of Nigeria Customs Service, Appapa command, intimating him of their decision to withdraw their services from the port, starting Friday 23nd of August 2025.
In the letter obtained exclusively by DAILY TREND, the associations including; Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) National Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents (NCMDLCA) Association of Registered Freight Forwarders of Nigeria (AREFFN) and International Freight Forwarders Association (IFFA) lamented that the consistent challenges in the newly launched Customs Bodogwu trade platform is causing huge financial losses to stakeholders without any plans by the customs to cushion the effects.
“This letter is to inform you that the Joint Association of LIcensed Customs Agents and Freight Forwarders, Apapa Chapter, after due consideratlon and in accordance with our internal decisions, hereby intimates the withdrawal of our service effective 22/08/2025.
“This declsion has been taken, due to the high cost of cargo dearance in the command caused by; Bodogwu System consistert glltches, Customs not taking responsibillty of the aftermath of the Bodogwu Implementation, Shipping lines and Terminal demurrages that have made importers and Licensed Customs agents cash cow to them, Inablllty of assoclated cargo clearance documents on Bodogwu -(Soncap /Product
Certficate), as well as the purported outrageous increase in the renewal and procuring fees of customs
operating licenses”
The group however appreciated the engagements extended so far to the stakeholders by the Nigeria Customs
Service which the Comptroller General of Customs was fully involved, but maintained however, that the Licensed
Customs Agents, Freight Forwarders and the Importing community have been left to bear the brunt of the decision made by the Service without any sign of compensatory effort being made.
Meanwhile, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi had on Monday on Monday engaged in a high-level consultation with the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers Council, Barr Pius Akutah Ukeyima on the implementation of the B’Odogwu and the attendant challenges.
The engagement provided a platform to deliberate on practical solutions aimed at mitigating the inconveniences experienced by the operators, with a resolution to consult further with terminal operators and shipping lines.
