Ugochukwu Nnadi (Deputy President, NAGAFF)
Something is fundamentally wrong with the CEMA and which we have been clamouring for its improvement, there is need to amend it. Statutorily, the minister of finance is the chairman of the Customs board, so the power of the minister supersedes the power of any other person, the CGC is just like every other permanent secretary or head of department and he is answerable to the Minister. The customs licensing regulations must be amended, the customs has too many powers that now make them corrupt, they have powers to do whatever they want and get away with it, some of these powers need to be taken away from them, so that we the practitioners will be independent enough to stand up and challenge the customs.
Dr. Frank Ukor (President, AREFFN)
The CEMA is very old and as a matter of fact needs to be amended, there is nothing wrong with Alli making fresh moves to amend the Act, he is in order, but he should not tow the line of the former CGC, Dikko who wanted to have more powers that even the President. Alli should not do all that, the amendments to the CEMA should be done to give a human face, it should not be like the one where Dikko says if any officer slaps you and you retaliate, you will face firing squad, that one is a draconian law, let Alli amend the areas where the economy and practitioners will benefit. Meanwhile, the minister is above the CGC, the CGC is just a parastatal head under the minister, so there is no need to confront his boss like we saw it recently.
Barr. Ada Akpunonu (Vice Chair, Tin Can Chapter, ANLCA
Definitely there is need for a review because the CEMA was enacted long ago and many things have changed, we have to be abreast with the international community, we are talking about e-clearance, PAAR and so on, these systems were not in existence before now. So there is need to effect changes and harmonize them. I will not subscribe to the customs getting full autonomy, there must be somebody overseeing their activities, also, the licensing regulation of the customs should be revisited because things are changing, when you look at some provisions of CEMA and CRFFN, you will find out we have some conflicts, one is talking about corporate bodies and one is talking about individuals. Another area that should be looked into is the discretionary powers given to customs officers in the CEMA; it is too enormous and subject to abuse.
Julius Mordi (clearing agent)
There is need for the amendment of the CEMA, one particular area is the discretionary powers of the customs, they misuse it all the time, most especially to deal with their perceived enemies in the clearing and forwarding business, they can block your license at anytime. If you check my license, you will not see my name on it, once they get my name, the license is blocked, we don’t even need licenses to operate, by so doing when there is a fraud somewhere you will know who to hold on to, but in a situation whereby I register 10 companies and anytime I use one to commit fraud I will drop it, it is still the same person operating those licenses. Again it has always been customs selling off auction, I don’t subscribe to that, what should be done is for the owners to come and buy them back, what makes people abandon their cargoes is high tariff by terminal operators and shipping companies.
Chief Boniface Okoye (NCMDLCA)
The current CGC is not the first person to head Customs that attempt to review CEMA in favour of the service. I believe he will try like others and he is going to fail likewise, because when we talk about autonomy we should also ask the NPA to be autonomous, same goes to Nigerian Air Force, Police and Army. I believe that Hameed Ali cannot go further with his new crusade to make moves and ensure that the CEMA is reviewed for the customs favour. Nigerian customs are not foreigners the government empowered the service through authority to implement its policies then they feel they can hijack the government authority for them to be autonomous. It is not possible anyway because I know he will fail in his quest like other past customs boss. Hameed Ali is saying that the CEMA is not as powerful as it ought to be, then I will advise him to go to National Assembly and tell them how the CEMA is weak and wait for response
Festus Ukwu (NCMDLCA)
Customs cannot come to say that they want to be autonomous just like that, because the Act that established it does not give them that room at any given time. If the CGC is saying that customs needs such powers then let him to go to the National Assembly to defend it and give reasons why the customs should get it and if he gets it goodluck to them, but I know that there is no need for them to think of going autonomous, because it is not possible for a government parastatal to get such powers, since it is under a ministry.
Elder Donatus Ofoma (NAGAFF)
I am not in support for the customs to get autonomous power over the ministry of finance and even other agencies of government like CRFFN. When you look at the whole issue bothering on customs, you will agree with me that CEMA is basically for customs brokers and customs brokerage is an integral part of freight forwarding practice, therefore I will say that there is no way for comparison, because CRFFN Act is equal to CEMA as far as freight forwarding practice is concerned and I will advise the customs hierarchy to harmonise both; instead of saying that they want to review the CEMA in favour of the customs; which I believe will cause more chaos for the profession. However, I will say it’s a wrong move by the CG of customs to think in that direction.
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