CARGO CLEARANCE: Customs to focus more on scanning

The Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Alhaji Dikko Inde Abdulahi, has stated that the Service will do more of scanning and risk management in cargo clearance at the nation’s ports.
Abdullahi, who disclosed this at the commissioning ceremony of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) Secretariat, Onne Chapter, Rivers State, last weekend, said that emphasis is now being shifted from physical examination to scanning of containers to facilitate exiting of cargoes at the ports.
Represented by the Assistant Comptroller-General, Customs Headquarters, Mr.Tahir Musa, Abdulahi reaffirmed that the Service will continue to train agents, especially on goods classification and valuation methods, even as he charged the agents to be more complaints and give honest declarations in their Customs documentations.
While commending the ANLCA leadership for its sustained partnership with the Service, the Customs chief assured that members of the association will be carried along at every stage of the modernisation project of the NCS.

The Customs boss said that the commissioning of the ANLCA Onne Chapter Secretariat symbolises the numerous achievements of the association, even as he urged other associations to ANLCA.
Abdulahi advised constant maintenance of the secretariat in order to grow its relevance.
Also speaking, the ANLCA National President, Prince Olayiwola Shittu, commended the efforts of the Onne Chapter executives in actualising in two years the building, which foundation, he said, he laid in 2011.
Shittu recommended similar project to other chapter chairmen, noting that such will show a structural evidence of prudent management of the resources and dues collected from members.
Earlier, Chairman of the ANLCA Onne Chapter, Prestige Ossy, said that the edifice cost N54 million to complete.
He solicited the assistance of Customs in furnishing the secretariat.