The PTML chapter chairman of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), Cosmas Ndimkora, has allayed the fear of freight forwarders who are afraid of possible job loss over the introduction of Pre-Arrival Assessment Report (PAAR) by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS).
PAAR was introduced by the NCS to replace the Risk Assessment Report (RAR) hitherto used by the service providers whose contracts with the Federal Government expired at the end of November 2013.
During an interview with SHIPS & PORTS DAILY on Monday, Ndimkora said that many customs agents have been apprehensive about the introduction of the policy but expressed believe that the fear is unfounded.
“If you get to the hub, there is a number that looks like a PIN and the number can only be owned by licensed customs agents. In every government policies there will be people who will be affected negatively while some others will be affected positively still it is a show of confidence in the Nigeria Customs Service that make the federal government give them the go-ahead,” he said.
He however criticised Customs agents for not changing with the tide, part of which was the reason why agents they are fearing for their job.
“People in this industry don’t upgrade themselves. People who have spent up to 25 years and they still want the industry to remain as it was. Most of these people don’t know their profession, if you ask them what is the HS of a car, they don’t know it. They expect things to remain the same and that is not the best, agents must upgrade themselves in other to be relevant in business,” he said.
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