The National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) has congratulated the Comptroller-General of Customs Col. Hameed Ali (Rtd.), the officers and men of the service for the feat they achieved in detecting and ensuring the seizure of 661 riffles falsely declared as steel doors.
It will be recalled that the Comptroller-General of Customs on Monday conducted newsmen around the seizure at the premises of the Federal Operating Unit (FOU) Zone, Ikeja Lagos where he said that three persons had been arrested in connection with the seizure adding that officers who cleared the consignment at the Apapa port would be question and penalised if found culpable.
In a congratulatory letter addressed to the Comptroller-General of Customs and copied to the Assistant Comptroller-General of Customs in charge of Zone A, Lagos and the Customs Area Comptroller in-charge of FOU, the Deputy National President Seaport, NAGAFF, Obums Anene while congratulating the service as well as pledging the association’s support to the service however called on the service called for an improvement on the intelligence gathering mechanism of the service.
Anene further advised that infrastructure relating to tools for trade facilitation at the ports and border areas be strengthened to reduce the risk of escapes of such illegal arms even as he said that it was their belief that the use of transire at the moment as a tool for trade facilitation be given adequate attention because of the inherent abuse thereto.
“Let it be on record that it is in the public notice that the major problem facing Customs operation is the inability of importers to comply with import and export regulations. In this regard, it is our view that laws are made to be obeyed and respected by the stakeholders and in particular, the importers and exporters.
“We in NAGAFF will want to remind the CGC that there are relevant Sections of the Customs law and import guideline detailing the responsibility of every stakeholder relating to Customs laws. In this regard the need to expand the scope of investigation on this illegal import cannot be over emphasized. Every carrier and its representative in shipping operation is expected to know the content of laden containers on board the vessel. It is wrong and injustice to the officers of the Service in the course of investigation, if action is limited on them only, the agents and the importers. Every other persons involved in the physical examination and duly endorsed should be investigated for not reporting.
“Whereas we contend with the shortfall of trade facilitation tools at this time, there is the urgent need for the Customs to engage the stakeholders through education and enlightenment on matters of compliance and rule of law and engagement. The welfare and reward for gallant officers cannot be overemphasized which shall serve as a boost to their morale. It is our opinion and advice that all the officers connected to this gallantry conduct should be rewarded and elevated to higher steps in their various ranks to serve as encouragement for other officers in the course of their duties.
“We are very much aware that some of the officers are being over- zealous in their conduct to the extent of abusing, insulting, disrespecting and molesting people on the road without good reasons. We know that Customs officers at every point are regarded as first officers of the Federal Republic and in that regard their conduct must be above board. We shall in due course do a profile of such officers for your necessary action for the sake of the image of the Service”.
He maintained that the roving teams should continue to exhibit professionalism within the city trade corridors in the course of their statutory duties with a view to ensuring that traders were not unnecessarily harassed or extorted.
The NAGAFF chieftain therefore congratulated the officers and men of the FOU for saving the lives of Nigerians in this regard.
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