Why do i have to give you my International Passport? What
do you need my Passport for? Do you think i`m a fool?
This are the conversations between me and my Importer
(new customer) when i ask him to provide his International
Passport, i was so surprised the way he responded. I never
comprehend what he was thinking, maybe he thought i was
going to use it for some kind of fraud. I don`t really blame
him though, because this is Nigeria…anything can happen.
And for anyone to request for something as important as
International Passport you must be ready to explain what
you really need it for. So i started explaining my self to my
new friend what i need his passport for and why he must
provide it. Despite my explanation my importer refused to
give me his passport, it took intervention of his friend who
recommends me to him before he could release his
passport and with undertaking that nothing must happen to
it.
But when i later discovered that it was his first time of
importing, then i started wondering, how many people out
there does not really undersatand what we (Clearing
Agents) uses their passport for? This is the reason i am
here today to explain so that we can all understand.
It is only at the port of loading that they recognises you as
the owner of your consignment, maybe through your shipper
or maybe you made the shipment by yourself. But at the
port of discharge here in Nigerian Port , the only person they
recognise is the one that provide original B/L and original
identity card that correspond with your B/L, it could be
international passport or drivers licence. Nomatter how you
trust your clearing agent, shipping company donesn`t feel
the same way.
There ware incidents of another person hijacking shipping
documents that does not belong to them from courier
service company, so this make it posible for anybody to
come to shipping company with your original B/L and claim
ownership of your consignment. It is responsibility of all
shipping company to protect their customers intrest and
secure their property. This is the reason why all shipping
company make it a mandate for every agent to provide
original importers identity because if your B/L is hijacked,
your identity card can not be hijacked.
So in summary, anytime your passport is been requested
for, you should understand that it is a measure to protect
your goods, and also it does not have to be only
international passport, it could be driver licence, national id
or certificate of incorporation for corporate organisation. All
of these is to be sure that you are genuinely represented.
Final note: Do not give any of your personal id to anyone
you do not trust instead go to the port along with your id
until it is no longer needed.
http//www.nigerianportforum.com/blog/archives/80