The Nigeria Customs Service has allayed the fears of clearing agents over speculations making the rounds that the Service is planning to reduce the number of operating licenses it issues.
Some clearing agents had recently raised an alarm that the Service is planning to reduce the number of licenses currently in operation.
Speaking with SHIPS & PORTS DAILY, National Public Relations Officer, Wale Adeniyi said that there are no plans by the Service to reduce the number of licenses in operation either for renewal or new license.
He explained that once all requirements for issuance of license are met, part of which according to him include having an office space, a specified number of staff and training by Customs, a license can be issued.
He said the Service came up with the requirements as part of effort in sanitizing the clearing and freight forwarding practice noting that licenses are issued only to those who adhere strictly to the requirements.
“Customs does not plan to reduce the number of license either for renewal or new ones. The policy of customs remains the same; so long the license holders have met the requirement both for renewal and new operations, he will be issued.
“The major determinant is about the requirement of the license. If we have fewer number of license holders who have met the requirement, it automatically means that we are going to have less number of people that have the license because we wanted to do away with situations in the past where clearing agents are just portfolio carriers moving around wharf.
“We want to bring sanity and professionalism to the profession so we are going to adhere strictly to the basic requirement before the licenses are issued,” he said.
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