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Customs pledges commitment to pursuing mandate
By
Muyiwa Dare
Maritme Reporter,
Lagos.
The
Customs Area Comptroller (CAC), Tin Can Island Port, Mr. Jerry Alagbaoso, has
reiterated the command’s commitment to pursuing its mandate as specified
in the Customs Exercise Management Act (CEMA).
The
act, which Alagbaoso referred to as the “Customs’ Bible”,
guides the operation of the service.
Alagbaoso
stated this when the executive council members of the National Association of
Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) visited him in his office. The
area comptroller said the command would not compromise the four cardinal
standards on which the on-going reform process of the service rests. He listed
the standards to include promotion of business friendliness, revenue
generation, anti-smuggling and national security.
“We
believe and preach dialogue but we will not like anybody to intimidate,
stampede the customs or to teach the customs how it should carry out its
functions. Customs is not joking with anything it found to be unwholesome.Once
you play within the rule of the game, there would be no penalty. It is as
simple as that”, he stated.
The
Customs officer applauded the NAGAFF for its dynamism and resourcefulness,
saying ‘‘its effort at capacity building is noted.’’
Besides, he urged it to dialogue with the Customs on any matter that would
enhance the performance of the service.
He
denied the allegation that the Customs does not recognise the existence and
operations of organised freight forwarding associations and licenced Customs
agents other than corporate bodies licenced by the service as alleged by the
President of NAGAFF, Dr. Boniface Aneboniam.
He
said that the issue of responsible partnership, cooperation and support had to
do with mutual respect for each other’s existence and cooperation.
Earlier, Aneboniam had remarked that there were issues, which NAGAFF felt were
disturbing and which required the CAC’s attention. He listed them to
include proper management act, general administration, cargo throughput,
corruption, un-orthodox practices and trade facilitation.
He
explained that his members were aware of government economic reform programmes
in the areas of anti-smuggling, trade facilitation, revenue generation,
collection and accountability. He maintained that these could be achieved if
only there is cooperation among all stakeholders.
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