… Hails ACG Orbih, Comptrollers Olomu, Onyeka on outstanding performance
The Managing Principal of AZ Logistics Limited, Dr. Azeez Abayomi Mustapha Rff, FITMT, has tasked federal government on regular training of freight forwarders to enhance industry growth.
The freight forwarder and logistics expert blamed some unprofessional conducts by clearing agents on sheer lack of information. He called on the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria(CRFFN) to embark on regular training of clearing agents to sanitize the industry.
Dr. Mustapha expressed concern over the increasing spate of extortion, intimidation, high-handedness, unprofessionalism and other unlawful activities that have continued to cast the country in the bad light.
Dr. Mustapha who was a guest during Congress of Nigerian Maritime Media Practitioners- (CONMMEP) Monthly Round Table on Thursday, 3rd of July, 2025, said that most of the losses incurred by importers, exporters and genuine stakeholders in the port industry are caused by the activities of some unpatriotic Nigerians who believe that the only way to become wealthy is to cut corners or indulge in fraudulent activities.
According to Dr. Mustapha, “when you visit Nigerian ports you see all manner of people, some carrying polythene bags about claiming to be clearing agents, if you investigate them thoroughly, you find out that they do not have physical offices and lack the knowledge of the field they claim they are into. But Kudos to the CRFFN that is now trying so hard to separate the wheat from the chaff. I think there are still more to it, even up until now, there are various challenges facing the sector. Customers don’t want to hear “l am still at it,” what they want is solution, what they want is their shipments.
I want to say that at AZ Logistics, we don’t know majority of our customers, they contact us on referral, people recommend us to them. And when someone refers a product or service to another person, there are two things involved, it is either they have a good relationship or the product is very good. This is what we are enjoying and we do not intend to compromise our integrity now or any time in future.”
AZ Logistics basically covers all logistics areas. We are into import documentation, Customs clearance, perishable items, industrial equipment and general cargo. We have clients in all sectors of the economy. We are into export as well, and we do also do what we call End to End. At AZ Logistics, we can do shipment from here to anywhere in the world, we do what we call Door to Door delivery. In shipment, we can process shipment from anywhere in the world and bring it to the doorstep of our client without stress in both import and export, and that is what we know how best to do.”
On government policies and how they affect the port industry, he stated that, “every where in the world, there are problems that emanate from government policies. As for port industry, one wakes up each morning to hear that certain policy has come into effect, and the enforcement commences without any form of public hearing, stakeholder engagement or consultations. Today it might be from terminal operators, tomorrow it is either Customs or shipping companies or truckers. In all these, it is obvious that government policies have continued to affect the industry because majority of the those churning out these policies are not technocrats, they are mostly political appointees, and that is why we keep facing certain challenges year in year out. But one good thing is that, when you are facing challenges in the course of clearing, there are always some industry experts that are there to help you surmount those challenges because there must be a way out in every situation. And AZ Logistics is one of those industry experts you can run to for solutions.”
On the alleged extortion of transporters via the Eto call up system, Dr Mustapha has this to say, “l can say that the E-Call up system is a good one. We all know how the Apapa port corridor used to be back then, but if we are talking of extortion, l can not say much because the issue of corruption is what we can not address outrightly since almost every sector is deeply involved in corruption. I am sorry to say that corruption is what we cannot eliminate completely in Nigeria because there is a sheer lack of will power. There is a difference between finding solution and extortion, if you have a solution to a turn around time, as it takes a truck about one or two weeks to access a terminal just to load one container. Imagine the revenue loss, and at the end of the day, it is the end users like you and l that bear the bront. So the extortion via the Eto call up system has always been there and you and l have no control over that. I think it is contracted to a certain company by the NPA, and we must bear in mind that operators of Truck Transit Points (TTP) are in the business to make money and proffer solution as well, but the fact remains that there are some bad eggs that must in one way or the other, device means of making quick money for themselves and that is Nigeria for you.”
On the operations of the Federal Operations Unit (FOU), which we all know are statutorily required to operate within designated parameters, Dr. Mustapha said that government policies remain one of the factors militating against trade facilitation.
“Customs is an organization set up by the government to safeguard the country from illegal imports, to generate revenue. When a Customs Area Controller of any Command releases a consignment, another Customs Unit lays ambush to accost or intercept a consignment that was duly examined . However, personnel in this Unit leverage on the vulnerability of some clearing agents to make illegal money for themselves. We have been agitating and protesting against the continued laying of ambush, intimidation and extortion of freight forwarders by the FOU, and nothing is being done about it by successive administrations. In saner climes, they do not intercept the goods but go for the arrest of the releasing officers that released the goods. We have so many units that conducted examinations and were satisfied before the consignment was released. So l see no reason why the FOU should intercept a consignment duly examined and released by a Customs Command. It is Customs issue which they must resolve inhouse to ensure ease of doing business.
Go to Khotonou, or Ghana, it is not done that way, it is only in Nigeria that we are having all these bureaucratic bottlenecks hampering trade facilitation.”
“In every country or organization, there is short and long term project. And Freight Forwarding is undoubtedly the backbone of most economies. Freight Forwarders are problem solvers, but here in Nigeria, we do not practice it the way it is. Maybe, pioneers of the profession did not have adequate knowledge of it back then. Presently, we have seen transformations via technological advancements, people are getting first hand information about anything wherever they are. And l think Nigerians in all sectors should key into this evolution to better their lots. We must begin to do things differently in order to achieve different results.”
“Government needs to do more, as at today, we still have majority of people in this field that do not know anything about the sector they claim to be stakeholders, and those are the people that are giving us bad name. When you hear people saying that “clearing agents are fraudulent people, they are liers and thieves,” know that certain people that are parading themselves as freight forwarders are the ones given us that bad image through their dirty activities.”
“I have no other business than this business, and for over two years, l have been consistent with it. I told you earlier on that l don’t know most of my clients, they come to me on referral. We still have a long way to go. But constant training by the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN), l believe, will go a long way to solving the problem of unprofessionalism. Licenced owners must be careful in giving out their licenses, especially to those who do not have physical offices, of which, when anything happens they can not be traced. Sometimes one wonders how these people get their contract. They are giving the country a bad image, not only clearing agents.”
On the election of the Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR, as Chairman, World Customs Organization (WCO), Mustapha described his election as one of the best things that happened to Nigeria and the entire Africa in recent times. He said that CG was elected going by his meritorious service to Nigeria as well as his professionalism and administrative ingenuity, which he brought to bear in the leadership of the Nigeria Customs Service(NCS) in less than two years.
Mustapha expressed optimism that the CGC would surpass the expectations of many as Chair of the World Customs apex body.
He commended the Assistant Comptroller General of Customs (ACG) Zone A, Charles Orbih, for his outstanding performance as well as the Customs Area Controller of Apapa Command, Comptroller Babatunde Olomu, and his Tincan counterpart, Comptroller Frank Onyeka, for their giant strides in revenue generation and anti smuggling campaign.
