Pius Ujubonu (ANLCA Chieftain)
The issue of modernization and automation of Customs including the one-stop-shop and single wind should be a major priority for him, so that trade facilitation will become a reality. Also cargo intelligence and risk management should be improved, such that trade facilitation in Nigeria will be comparable with other climes. Secondly, he needs to take into consideration the issue of deployment of competent officers. He has to try as much as possible to deemphasize ethnic favoritism in a situation when you come to a Command or particular zone and you find a particular ethnic group overwhelmingly dominating more than half of the job. It tends to weigh down on the morale of officers from other ethnic groups. Let there be a level playing ground and be pan-Nigerian in his consideration.
Frank Obiekezie (National Secretary, AREFFN)
He is not new in the system. After him we have not known any PRO that has made his mark. We have confidence that he will do well, because most of the complaints of the past were channeled through him. Now that he has the opportunity, we are expecting so much from him. Customs and agents relationship for the past eight years is almost dead because Customs was run as a military outfit. I want him to create a forum for interaction between Customs and clearing agents because we are actually the revenue makers and our operations are very germane to what they are doing.
Simeon Nwonu (Deputy National President, NAGAFF)
We are having a lot of issues in the Customs. There are too many alerts place of cargo clearance and too many cargo blockages on the road. There are many Customs intervention units such as Customs Strike Force, Customs Police and others stopping containers in transit. The new CG has to streamline all these things, so that things will look decent. There seems to be no unity of purpose among all the various units in Customs formations. He can take a cue from how things are being done in the Eastern port at Onne and also Calabar. All these inhibit the facilitation of trade in the country.
David Etim (Deputy President, Calabar Chamber of Commerce)
The major thing the new Comptroller General of Customs should look at is the full implementation of the single window for trade. Once they implement a single window for trade, every other problem will solve itself. That is just the solution to many of the challenges faced with Customs. The implementation of the Single Window will adequately facilitate trade and make Customs processes easier and faster.
Festus Ukwu (National Secretary, NCMDLCA)
There are a lot of problems associated with Customs. The new CG is a career officer and as a Career officer, he knows what is obtainable. He knows the value of professionalization. We expect him to professionalize the place and bring it to its former glory and again balance the equation in terms of marginalization. We are expecting much from the new CG. There should be sanity in all their commands and the procedures should be followed to the letter.
Clinton Okoro (APFFLON PRO, Tin Can Chapter)
Speaking as a freight forwarder and stakeholder, I would say the most important to us is ease of doing business. There are hiccups and obstacles here and there, especially the policies coming from the government. These are some of the things causing inflation because whether we like it or not, it will still bounce back to the masses. The CG should look into these policies and advise the government. The replication of jobs in the Customs is another issue we have been battling with for some time now. Every CG will want to bring in one or the other office to add, not even thinking of decreasing the existing ones. Internally, the new CG should do something about the multiple units in Customs.
Francis Omotoso (Registrar, NAGAFF Academy)
What I would advise or propose to the new Comptroller General of Customs is to make sure he redirects the Customs into the perspective of professionalism. He should make sure the officers are well trained professionally, because the role of Customs worldwide in line with World Customs Organization principles is that the Customs in all nationalities should look at the angle of trade facilitation. The CG who is a seasoned officer should make sure that the officers carry out their professional duties in line with the principles of valuation, tariff gratifications and the Rules of Origin. These are the main bottom-line and foundations of Customs practice all over the world. Anything outside of these is not professional.
Taiwo Fatomilola (National PRO AREFFN)
The first agenda I would love him to address is the duties on all imports. Nigeria has the highest paid duty and freight as far as Africa is concerned. The Customs should change their motive from revenue drive to trade facilitation. Revenue drive is at the expense of those that are trading and stakeholders. It is really strangulating and not encouraging at all. That should be fully addressed.
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