APFFLON Charges FG To Review Webb Fontaine’s Operation over Inceasant Customs Server Collapse

APFFLON Charges FG To Review Webb Fontaine’s Operation over Inceasant Customs Server Collapse

…Says it is time to break Web Fontane’s hegemonic hold on NCS

Following the constant and perennial collapse of the server of the Nigeria Customs Service ( NCS),at the port across the country, the Africa Association of Professional Freight Forwarders and Logistics of Nigeria (APFFLON) has called on the Federal Government to start immediate review of the operation of the IT Company.

While speaking at a Roundtable discussion of the Maritime Journalists Association of Nigeria (MAJAN) ,on Thursday, in Lagos, the National President of the association, Mr. Frank Ogunojemite lamented that the operation of Webb Fontaine has been frustrating port operations in Nigeria over the years.

According to him, the constant collapse of the Customs Sever managed by Webb Fontaine across all ports in the country is detrimental to the wellbeing of Nigeria’s economy, noting that without the server running , no cargo can be captured.

Ogunojemite, who decried the current state of the Nigerian ports, said freight forwarding is no longer what it used to be in Nigeria. He noted that the incessant collapse of customs server currently top the myriads of challenges bedeviling freight forwarding business and port operations generally in Nigeria.

He specifically called on the Minister of Finance to as a matter of urgency start reviewing the activities and the term of contract of the company with a view to finding a lasting solution to the problem before the entire port operation in Nigeria will collapse.

In his words.
“Most of the problems we have as far back as 2019 at the port are still there and unless we address all these problems, we can’t move forward. The activities of Webb Fontaine is the biggest issue now.

“For instance, since last week, there was no server at PTML and some other terminals at all and without server, we can’t capture our jobs. The minister of Finance should urgently look into it and call Webb Fontaine to order”, the APFFLON president said.

Ogueojemite however said stakeholders in the maritime industry and Nigerians at large deserve to know the term of contract of Webb Fontaine, how the company got the contract and why it appears the company is untouchable despite its glaring inefficiency since it took over the management of the Nigeria Customs Service about 16 years ago.

He said, “The president, Bola Tinubu led administration, should critically look into the operation of Webb Fontaine and their term of contract. Why is Web Fontaine not rendering efficient service in Nigeria and nobody is saying anything? Does it means the company is untouchable? Who are the people behind the company in Nigeria? Why is Webb Fontaine the only contractor that is managing the customs Server, despite their inefficiency? Why are they enjoying monopoly? Why can’t their monopoly be broken?

“How did Webb Fontaine get the contract? Why was there no bidding for the contract? How long is Webb Fontaine going to run the contract? Is it going to be forever or should the situation remain the way it is now forever?

“Webb Fontaine should let Nigeria breathe”, Ogunojemite said.

The APFFLON president recalled that the association has once taken the matter to the national assembly and the national assembly met
stating that the meeting was abruptly stopped and since then, till date, nobody has said anything about the matter, which makes it appears that Webb Fontaine is untouchable.

He noted that with the effort president Tinubu is making to revamp the nation’s economy and also attract foreign investors, the administration must address the problems at the port, if he really wants to achieve the desired result he craves for.

The APFFLON president also called for immediate provision of more scanners at the port across the country to enhance efficiency, while also calling on the government to put measures in place to permanently address the traffic gridlock in Apapa and its environ.

By Silas Onuoha