At SIFAX Terminal, ANLCA Directs Members to Stop Payment of CRFFN’s POF Levy

By DAPO OLAWUNI

The Leadership of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) has directed its members to discontinue the payment of the controversial Practitioners Operating Fees (POF) to the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) at SIFAX Container Terminal, Ijora Lagos.

In a viral video which circulated online on Thursday, the Western Zone Chairman of ANLCA, Alhaji Femi Anifowose, his Secretary, Alhaji Idowu Owoade, the National Publicity Secretary, Emmanuel Onyeme and some chapter chairmen including Apapa Chairman ,Emeka Chukwumalu, PTML chapter chairman, Charles Nwannieri, and KLT Chairman, Ahmed Olajide Bello, stormed the Sifax Inland Container Terminal at Ijora in response to concerns raised by clearing agents that the Terminal was not writing Terminal Delivery Order (TDO) for cargoes to exit unless the agents pay POF.

When contacted by our on Friday morning, Alhaji Femi Anifowose confirmed that POF is no longer being collected at the ports, but that Sifax Terminal at Ijora was still collecting.

“Somebody was collecting the money into a certain account at the terminal. Meanwhile APM Terminals Apapa, Tin Can Ports and others are no longer collecting the POF. We are going to collect that money back” he said
Anifowose also said that another Terminal at KLT was also collecting the POF, which he has directed Members to stop payments forthwith.

In the viral video, the ANLCA National Publicity Secretary, Emmanuel Onyeme said “We are here today for the purpose of our members, we have met with the Customs Deputy Comptroller and some staff members of Sifax Terminal, we shall be coming back here on Monday for a meeting. But for now, dont allow anybody force you to pay POF.
We are going to the TDO and departments and sounding it to them that, for now, nobody is paying POF”