The Chairman, Customs Consultative Committee, Aare Hakeem Olarenwaju and the Secretary of the Committee, Dr. Eugene Nweke, yesterday, played host to Comptroller Dera Nnadi, the Customs Area Controller of the Nigeria Customs Service, Tincan Command who was on a working visit to the Customs Consultative Committee, at its Apapa office.
Speaking during the visit, Olanrewaju drew the attention of the Controller to the wider negative impact of the unstable foreign exchange regime on trade generally, and used the opportunity to enlighten the CAC on the workings of the CCC while soliciting for broader areas of strategic consultations in order to redefine operational bottlenecks at the ports.
He highlighted the noticeable red tapes in the supply chain and recommended eradication of such. He made recommendations for achieving policy goals of the command in particular and the management of NCS in general.
The CCC Chairman reassured the visiting Controller of the Committee’s cooperations and support towards meeting set goals, especially the command’s revenue target,
Responding, the Controller reiterated that his visit was informed by his belief that responsible partnerships and collaborations were incomplete without strategic mobilization and alliances, hence his visit to the CCC in achieving this for TCIP command.
He commended the CCC for their support to TCIP command in 2023 while informing that the management of the command was committed to the implementation of the key resolutions reached at the recent stakeholders meeting held during the Comptroller General of Customs conference 2023.
He insisted that the management would not leave any stone unturned in pursuance to its trade compliance and facilitation quest.
He, however, called on the trading public to shore up compliance in their trade transactions and requisite trade related applications through prompt documentation and honest declaration.
He noted that going forward, compliance traders would be rewarded with prompt service delivery while sanctions on trade irregularities and breaches would be meted to the defaulting trading public (including importers, exporter and their representatives) as provided in the new Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023.
He equally said that officers caught in the line of duty aiding and abetting trade infractions would as well be punished accordingly to achieve holistic and meaningful compliance.
On the allegation that the Service increased the benchmark for the surface payable customs duty, Comptroller Dera Nnadi reiterated that at no time did the Service set nor increased any benchmark other than the reality of the foreign exchange rate regime, insisting that once, the exchange rate drops, the payable surface Customs duty would as well drop.
Highlight of the visit was the presentation of the CCC handbook to Comptroller Dera Nnadi by the Chairman, CCC, Aare Hakeem Olanrewaju.
Photo: (L-R): Dr. Eugene Nweke, Secretary, CCC, Comptroller Dera Nnadi, Customs Area Controller, Tincan Island Port Command and Aare Hakeem Olanrewaju during the visit in Lagos on Monday.
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