The Federal Operations Unit (FOU), Zone A Ikeja, Lagos has said that it will no longer pick containers on the highways after it had been cleared and exited from the ports.
Before now, containers duly cleared and exited from the nation’s seaport by the proper releasing customs officer at the ports usually end up being picked up on the highway while being conveyed to the owner’s warehouse by the operatives of the FOU ‘A’ claiming to be doing so on a tip off.
This development had attracted the ire of the leadership of the freight forwarding associations at the nation’s seaports spearheaded by the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) and the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA).
Addressing a delegation from ANLCA led by the Zonal Coordinator Western Zone, Chief John Ofobuike at the Unit’s headquarters in Lagos Wednesday, the Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Dahiru Umar said that on assumption of duty at the command, he reappraised the operational strategy of the Unit and resolved not to allow his officers pick containers on the highways.
While disclosing his intention to cooperate with the commands within his jurisdiction to stop offensive imports from exiting the ports, Umar pleaded with ANLCA to endeavour to weed out miscreants from its fold as according to him; they are causing integrity problems for the association.
He reiterated the general view held by the generality of Customs that the service holds ANLCA in high esteem, and therefore would expect nothing less than a continuing rise in ANLCA’s profile and continuing professional capacity building.
The Customs boss commended ANLCA for its steadfastness in its collaboration and synergy with Nigeria Customs Service even as he called for the sustenance of the cordial working relationship in order to achieve the mandate of the Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC) in realizing more revenue for the federal government, especially in these hard economic times.
Earlier, the Zonal Coordinator, Western Zone, Chief John Ofobuike assured the Comptroller of maximum support and cooperation of ANLCA with the unit, for it to achieve its mandate.
Highlight of the visit was the presentation of a souvenir to Chief Oforbuike by Comptroller Umar as a mark of appreciation for the visit.
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