'No Longer Business as Usual at Ports'
The reform being carried out by the Federal Govrnment at the nation's maritime industry has impacted positively at the ports, the former Secretary-General of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Mr. Tony Nwabunike has said.
Nwabunike who commended the government over this development said that there is now a clear difference from the present situation at the ports and what it used to be.
Acknowledging that there were malpractices in the past as far as business at the ports is concerned, the freight forwarder added, "but now, the situation has changed".
He commended particularly the new management of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) for the measures introduced which in turn have been able to reduce drastically cases of malpractices in goods clearance at the ports.
"We are towing the lines of the new customs management, making sure that we are not involved in any malpractices. We have instructed our importers to observe all rules as importation is concerned so that they do not have problem at the ports", he said.
Nwabunike pointed out that the changes have in a lot of ways helped the agents in their jobs, adding that they have no reason to offer anybody bribe if their importers have observed all necessary rules as far as importation is concerned.
"Now, we can raise our heads high because of the clean jobs we do. Our dignity has gone up and we are happy about this", he said.
According to the freight forwarder, companies have been cautious of losing their licences, explaining that most practitioners who were involved in malpractices had their licences revoked.
Nwabunike advised other agencies at the ports to emulate the Customs in their reform exercise at the ports, adding that this will finally bring to an end the issue of corruption.
"Various customs commands have taken a decision to do a good job, and we are advising other agencies to join in this crusade of reforms at the port", he said.
However, Nwabunike expressed concern over government's fiscal policies, such as the ban placed on importation of many items, which according to him have impacted negatively at buiness in the ports.
Listing the ban on importation of refrigerators, cement in bags, textiles, among others, the former ANLCA scribe opined that government needed to have created enough enabling environment for mass production of these items before placing them on prohibited list.
"Some of these items can be produced here, but the problem is that the enabling environment, such as infrastructure, is not encouraging", he said.
On textile materials and refrigerators, he made it clear that many of the local manufacturers can hardly manufacture quality products that can compete with those of the foreign products.
On rice and iron rod imports, he noted that the 100 and 65 percent charged respectively was not the best since the policy has in turn led to high rise of prices of the goods in the market.
"If our steel firms are not working, or producing enough, and production of rice is very poor here, then there is the need to bring down the import duties on them. And beyond this, we should not even be thinking of outright ban on importation of these items", he said.
Nwabunike who is contesting the post of Deputy President of ANLCA, said he has big plans for his members. "My plans is to take the Association to greater heights. We want to introduce professionalism in the business of freight forwarding. As the former Secretary, I had limitations, but not as Deputy President. We shall give the Association a face lift. It is not just for all comers affair. It is for principled people. It is not for those out to mortgage the interest of the members", he told our Correspondent.
He added, "I see my post if elected as a challenge. If given the chance, I have more to offer."
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