Even as the use of the newly- introduced Taxpayers Identification Numbers (TIN) is yet to commence at the ports, some freight forwarders have cried out to the Nigeria Customs Service to consider issuing security numbers to protect their practicing licenses.
According to what Shipping Position Daily gathered, some dubious persons who are allegedly working in collaboration with DTI cafes have been hacking licenses belonging to freight forwarders and they have been using this to capture consignments that do not belong to them.
Even as the use of the newly- introduced Taxpayers Identification Numbers (TIN) is yet to commence at the ports, some freight forwarders have cried out to the Nigeria Customs Service to consider issuing security numbers to protect their practicing licenses.
According to what Shipping Position Daily gathered, some dubious persons who are allegedly working in collaboration with DTI cafes have been hacking licenses belonging to freight forwarders and they have been using this to capture consignments that do not belong to them.
Also, some of the clearing agents who spoke with our correspondent in Lagos last week have sent a ‘Save Our Soul’ message to the customs, saying that there is need for customs to allow license owners to have a password which will deter fraudsters from making use of it.
Confirming these developments in a chat with Shipping Position Daily, a chairmanship aspirant in PTML chapter in the coming western zone elections of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents, Otunba Sunday Oyebola explained that he has been receiving complaints from some sections of agents over the hacking of their practicing license.
He explained that as a matter of fact, “this morning, about three agents were in my office complaining bitterly that people have been using their license to capture consignments without their notice".
He also revealed that his team is ready to write to the Comptroller General of Customs, Alhaji Dikko Inde in order for him to beam security searchlights on the matter.
Perhaps, speaking the minds of many licensed customs agents, Otunba Oyebola demanded that, "let custom give a password to every license owner so that if you don’t have my password , you will not have access to my license"
"Right now if you go to any DTI cafe and mention my name, they can capture the job without my notice, but if I have my password they cannot capture anything".
Speaking on the Taxpayers Identification Number (TIN) which is proposed by the Customs for the purpose of clearing consignments at the port, he commended the gesture but noted that the project has been hanging for too long. According to him, implementation needs to commence immediately.
"The TIN number is good but for now it is not being used, it has been generated, lauched by the FIRS but up till now they have not started the implementation, if they can implement this, the better for us"
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