Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Dikko Abdullahi may have become sympathetic to the demand of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) that clearing agents be given 10 percent of the service total revenue collection.
ANLCA National President, Prince Olayiwola Shittu had in several fora clamoured that agents be given a 10 percent of Customs total revenue collection because of the role they play in revenue generation.
Speaking at a meeting between top executives of ANLCA and the Customs management in Abuja recently, Abdullahi said he has written to the appropriate quarters for consideration of the request.
Also arising from the meeting which was aimed at addressing operational challenges faced by agents at the nation’s seaport was the complaints about Customs Intelligent Unit (CIU) officers’ interference with cargo clearance.
Abdullahi reportedly described the current crop of CIU officers as professionals in approach to the mandate handed out to them but maintained that they were only expected to witness examination and report their findings to the command’s Area Controller and to the headquarters.
According to highlights of the meeting released by the ANLCA headquarters, “It was also agreed at the meeting that once a cargo is released by the authorized releasing officer, the issue of stamping and authorised release, by the D/C terminal, will no longer be tenable for terminal operators to exit cargo.
“On the Customs Pre Arrival Assessment Report (PAAR), Abdulahi also maintained that only agents who handle non-compliant cargoes find fault with the operation of PAAR.
“He pleaded that agents should change their ways, up their game and stop complaining about the operations of PAAR”.
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