APFFLON Accuses Foreign Airlines of Refusal to Transmit Manifests to Customs B’Odogwu Platform

— Fingers Lufthansa, Ethiopia, British Airways, Airfrance, Turkish

The Africa Association of Professional Freight Forwarders and Logistics of Nigeria (APFFLON) has raised deep concerns about the alleged persistent refusal of some airlines to transmit cargo manifests to the B. Odogwu Platform of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), especially for shipments arriving at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

The association in a press statement signed by its National President, Otunba Frank Ogunojemite on Friday, specifically fingered five airlines; Fingers Lufthansa, Ethiopia, British Airways, Airfrance and Turkish Airways.

The APFFLON President said that this uncooperative stance by the airlines has crippled the smooth clearance of goods, caused excessive delays, and resulted in massive demurrage and storage charges for freight forwarders, importers, and logistics stakeholders operating through the Abuja airport and Lagos airports

He added that despite repeated appeals and engagements with relevant stakeholders, there has been no clear resolution.

“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.

“Consequences of Non-Compliance by Airlines
• Clearance Bottlenecks: Cargo remains uncleared due to the non-availability of manifest data required for processing.
• Mounting Demurrage and Storage Costs: Importers are forced to bear exorbitant demurrage and warehouse charges through no fault of theirs.
• Loss of Business and Trust: Delays have disrupted supply chains, resulting in business losses, customer dissatisfaction, and reputational damage for those affected.
• Operational Congestion: Cargo terminals at the Abuja airport are becoming overcrowded due to the backlog of unprocessed shipments.

Our Position and Demand

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, FAAN, and NCAA to urgently intervene and compel full compliance from all airlines. We also recommend:
1. Immediate sanctions or suspension of cargo operations for non-compliant airlines until they fulfill their statutory obligations.
2. A stakeholders’ roundtable, including Customs, airlines, handling companies, and freight forwarders, to address the technical and administrative barriers to seamless manifest transmission.
3. Compensation or demurrage waivers for affected importers whose cargo has been delayed as a result of airline negligence.

Conclusion

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.