The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has called on licensed customs agencies to update their official address with the service so as to aid it in accessing them when the need arises.
The Zonal Coordinator, Zone A of the NCS, ACG Aminu Dahiru who made this call yesterday during his official visit to the headquarters of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) in Lagos frowned at a situation where licensed customs agencies would move from the official address known to the Service to a new one without supplying such information to the Service adding that the development hampers trade facilitation.
Dahiru observed that anyone who was operating on a truthful platform needed to have his identity known wondering why an agency that was existing would want to change official address would just move without informing the customs.
“I think it is part of the requirement that we know where we can locate you if need be and we have experienced in recent times that where we write an invitation letter, on getting to the point, we find nobody. So, we felt that it is one department that we need to improve on and we are working on it”, he said.
On the development at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport Command where the licensed customs agents and the Customs Area Controller of the command had a disagreement leading to withdrawal of service by the agents, the ACG stated that he had not been briefed on what the issues were saying that until he heard from the Controller, he would rather remain silent on the matter.
“I will comment but not this way because I have to listen to the other side. All that I have been hearing is one side and as someone who is in-charge, I think it will be fair to myself, to other side, you have to listen to them but what I know is that there is no problem that is beyond being solved. We will try; in fact, I am on my way to the airport to see things for myself”, he explained.
He however described the outcome of his visit to NAGAFF headquarters as fruitful and successful even as he appreciated the warm reception accorded him and his team by the leadership of the association.
He said,” The essence of this visitation is to see to trade facilitation. NAGAFF and customs are grade one partners, so, that’s why I came to meet with their leadership because they were at the zone on a visit when I came here and I felt it was time for me to reciprocate the gesture. We are here for the industry, we are here for the Service, we are here for Nigeria.
“Our interaction has been very fruitful, we tried to pinpoint where we are lacking and we agreed that we will all collectively improve on that. So, I can say that the visit was very successful and we appreciate their hospitality”.
Speaking on the crisis at the Murtala Mohammed Airport command, the founder of NAGAFF, Dr. Boniface Aniebonam expressed strong believe on the ability of the ACG to resolve the matter amicably as soon as possible.
“We all know that trade facilitation is talking about simplification of procedures and what they are talking about at the airport is to simplify procedures because what you get there is what one may refer as parcel process. The goods are goods that are timed, some of them are perishable, so, by the time you discuss the issue of getting Pre-Arrival Assessment Notice, goods may go down.
“So, there must be a platform we put in place. Usually, they use what we call con notes, I think it was around section 24 or section 28 is about what we call bill of sight for you to clear goods out of customs control. Just make a declaration and assessment will be done immediately and off you go. Well, the ACG is on his way to the airport, I am sure he will resolve the matter as fast as possible”, he stated.
He however denied any knowledge of withdrawal of service by members of association at the Airport even as he said,” I am not aware they have downed tools, I have not been properly briefed on that. I don’t know whether this is true or false, I am not sure because the Zonal Coordinator of NAGAFF is here, he has never briefed me on that, may be they have the intention of doing so but I don’t think that downing tool is the best option. The ACG is going straight to the airport, he will resolve them”.
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