Customs Agents Threaten Protest Over Alleged Manifest Manipulation by Shipping Firms

The Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents has threatened to protest over what it describes as manifest manipulation by shipping companies, naming Mediterranean Shipping Company and Hapag-Lloyd.

Former ANLCA vice president Kayode Farinto alleged that electronic manifests are filed declaring that containers have been fully discharged in Nigeria, when in practice only part of the cargo is offloaded, with the balance left at transshipment hubs in Cotonou or Cote d’Ivoire. When the remaining boxes arrive later without an amended manifest, the Nigeria Customs Service treats them as overdue or abandoned, blocking bills of lading and preventing electronic declarations.

The association argues the practice forces manual intervention, disrupts port operations and creates openings for extortion, and gave a two-week window before going public. MSC asked for details and promised to investigate, while Hapag-Lloyd declined immediate comment.

Source: Vanguard