…As National President says respite for importers, agents in a week time
The leadership of the Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents, ANLCA, yesterday, met with the Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi in Abuja to discuss way out of the fluctuations in the exchange rate for the calculation of duty payment for all imports into the country.
Recall that in the past few weeks, the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN has continued the upward review of exchange rate for duty payment almost on a daily basis, a development which has left importers and their agents uncertain of the actual cost of any import, forcing many to abandon importation while the few who import, are now diverting their consignments to the ports of neighbouring countries with fire consequences on the Nigerian economy.
Worried by this development, the leadership of ANLCA led by its National President, Mr. Emenike Nwokeoji on Tuesday, traveled to Abuja to meet with the Comptroller General of Customs to find a way around this in order to restore confidence in the Nigerian port system and save their members from going out of business.
Speaking when he received the Management of the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria, CRFFN led by its Acting Registrar, Mrs. Chinyere Uromta at the National Secretariat of the association in Lagos today, Mr. Nwokeoji disclosed that they went to Abuja to see the Customs Boss without any prior appointment. This, he said they did because the agents were about stoning them over the exchange rate fluctuations.
His words, “I am just coming from Abuja. Yesterday, they brought food. As we were about to eat, there was a call that the CGC wants to see us. We have been waiting for him. The people in the hotel were wondering, how can you leave food? What type of appointment is that that made you abandon food? We rushed off, by the time we got there, they said that we need to wait another two hours before he would reconvene all the DCGs. We have to wait, meanwhile, we were hungry.
“So, all this things you go through, early morning, we have to catch flight to be here. Why were we in Abuja? It’s because of the fluctuations in the exchange rate. Importation is dropping and here we are talking about generating of revenue. If I don’t have container, I will not even know where your office is. So, let us get the container first and whoever is coming to collect should come and collect.
“But right now, an agent is an angry man and that I must tell you. We went to Abuja not on appointment, we said we must see the Comptroller General because the agents are about stoning us, you capture job today, in the next one hour, the exchange rate will change.”
Emenike who did not give the details of the meeting and it’s outcome, however, said, “Please, I appreciate all members and I want to use this opportunity to appeal to you, our journey to Abuja, I believe God, it will yield fruit. Before a week, by God’s grace, maybe, you will hear a cheering news about this.”
Stating that the Service was not comfortable with the fluctuations in the exchange rate for calculation of duty payment, he added, “As we were sitting there, they were looking at the number of PAARs registered, submitted, it’s being shown live, real time. As you are there, you see 334, the next moment 335, they are seeing that not even one day have they met the revenue target. So, it’s bitting on them as well.
“We all are putting heads together, tomorrow we are going to address the International Press on this. That is why the BOT members are coming here to join us. So, it’s a national calamity.
“You people should please bear with us, hold yourselves, the same way we are complaining, it’s not easy for the customs too because when the exchange rate changes in the system, nobody consults the customs, it’s purely CBN matter. They are the ones that regulate the exchange rate.
“So, you will hear from us, some of you that would be available, will join us during the press conference, we are going to address the world press on this issue so that everybody will know that we are on top of the situation and that we are not just sitting down. I appreciate all of you and I thank you for your presence.”
Photo: (L-R): Chief Ernest Elochukwu, former National President and member of BOT, ANLCA, Mr. Emenike Nwokeoji, National President of ANLCA and Mrs. Chinyere Uromta, Acting Registrar, CRFFN during the visit to ANLCA National Secretariat in Lagos today.
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