The Comptroller-General of Customs, Hameed Ali has promised to address operational challenges faced by clearing agents during cargo clearance at the ports.
Ali gave the assurance when members of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) led by its National President, Prince Olayiwola Shittu visited the Customs headquarters in Abuja on Thursday.
He said all hands must be on deck to actualize the Executive Order recently rolled out by the federal government with a view to facilitate trade and ease cost of doing business in the country.
The Customs boss assured that the Service will understudy the various challenges identified in order to put to an end all the challenges militating against their operation at the port and blocking revenue leakages.
This, according to him will commence immediately, as a directive for the survey study was issued at the meeting.
Earlier, members of the association had complained of unnecessary multiple levels of interference of several units of Customs in the clearance of cargo from the ports, and even en-route warehouses and cargoes ultimate destinations.
ANLCA sought intervention of the Customs boss in ensuring that Customs officers adhere strictly to laid down standard operational procedures in cargo clearance at the ports and border stations, in compliance with the World Customs Organization’s established conventions.
They also pleaded with Ali to implore his officers, especially those in the field, to positively change their attitudes in order to facilitate trade across international borders, without compromising the security and revenue accruable to the federal government.
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