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| ACG Eporwei Edike with President of ANLCA, Prince Olayiwola Shittu on arrival to the ANLCA Secretariat, Lagos |
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS)
on Thursday said it would phase out all public Direct Trade Input (DTI) Cafes being used by licensed
agents by the end of March.
on Thursday said it would phase out all public Direct Trade Input (DTI) Cafes being used by licensed
agents by the end of March.
Deputy Controller in charge of
ICT at the Zone ‘A’ Command, Musa Baba Yusuf, made the assertion while assuring
licensed customs agents in Lagos of efforts by the service to checkmate illegal
use of agents’ licences without their knowledge.
Yusuf spoke as a member of the
team that accompanied the Assistant Comptroller-General in charge of the zone,
Mr Eporwei Edike, who was on a working visit to the Association of Nigerian Licensed
Customs Agents(ANLCA) Secretariat in Amuwo- Odofin, Lagos.
team that accompanied the Assistant Comptroller-General in charge of the zone,
Mr Eporwei Edike, who was on a working visit to the Association of Nigerian Licensed
Customs Agents(ANLCA) Secretariat in Amuwo- Odofin, Lagos.
Earlier, Edike had told the
association that with private DTI Cafes, and individual password for operators,
sanity would be restored since no one can process any information at the café
without his password.
association that with private DTI Cafes, and individual password for operators,
sanity would be restored since no one can process any information at the café
without his password.
OnepageAfrica reports that
many licenced customs agents had complained of their licences being blocked as
they were accused of various offences they were not aware of.
many licenced customs agents had complained of their licences being blocked as
they were accused of various offences they were not aware of.
Responding to the various
concerns raised by the ANLCA members, Edike appreciated the President of ANLCA,
Prince Olayiwola Shittu, even as he urged members of the association to engage in their jobs with dedication.
concerns raised by the ANLCA members, Edike appreciated the President of ANLCA,
Prince Olayiwola Shittu, even as he urged members of the association to engage in their jobs with dedication.
Speaking on the issue of
licences being blocked without drawing the attention of agents to the matter,
Edike said, “The DC will tell you how to resolve it.
licences being blocked without drawing the attention of agents to the matter,
Edike said, “The DC will tell you how to resolve it.
“If no reason is given for
blocking the licence, then we will take it up.”
blocking the licence, then we will take it up.”
On valuation, Edike said he
had often handled that aspect carefully, so that they could justify the
issuance of a DN.
had often handled that aspect carefully, so that they could justify the
issuance of a DN.
He urged licenced agents to be
bold and not allow themselves to be intimidated by anybody.
bold and not allow themselves to be intimidated by anybody.
He advised the agents to be
careful with their licences, in order not to give room for misuse by some staff
who they entrust with such responsibility that requires the use of their
licences.
careful with their licences, in order not to give room for misuse by some staff
who they entrust with such responsibility that requires the use of their
licences.
Edike promised to ensure that
delays were done with, to save the customs agents the agony of paying avoidable
demurrage.
delays were done with, to save the customs agents the agony of paying avoidable
demurrage.
The ACG also advised the customs
agents operating at Lilypond and the Kirikiri Lighter Terminals to be steadfast
in the business in spite of the low-level economic activities they complained
of, with a hope for a general improvement in the business environment.
agents operating at Lilypond and the Kirikiri Lighter Terminals to be steadfast
in the business in spite of the low-level economic activities they complained
of, with a hope for a general improvement in the business environment.
He told the association that government
had mandated the Nigerian Ports Authority to be in charge of overtime containers to be transferred to
Ikorodu.
had mandated the Nigerian Ports Authority to be in charge of overtime containers to be transferred to
Ikorodu.
Thanking the ACG for his
visit, Prince Shittu said the Comptroller-General of Customs had done well to give them opportunity to
take their complaints to the zonal office, instead of often rushing to Abuja
with every complaint.
visit, Prince Shittu said the Comptroller-General of Customs had done well to give them opportunity to
take their complaints to the zonal office, instead of often rushing to Abuja
with every complaint.
Shittu requested that a decentralised
system in issuing of licence be adopted, while the renewal of their licence should
be extended to about five years instead of doing so annually.
system in issuing of licence be adopted, while the renewal of their licence should
be extended to about five years instead of doing so annually.
He said that the association would
be able to triple the revenue if it got the right support.
be able to triple the revenue if it got the right support.
He also urged the ACG to only
deal with recognised agents, who could be traced in case of any challenge.
deal with recognised agents, who could be traced in case of any challenge.
