The Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) has condemned the recent threat by the Comptroller General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ali (rtd) to suspend the ease of doing business at the port, The order on certain agencies of government to embrace ease of doing business was given by the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo.
At a joint press briefing in Lagos recently by Chairmen of various chapters of ANLCA under western zone, the association noted that ease of doing business order cannot be revoked by the customs boss.
Coordinator of Western Zone of ANLCA, Chief John Oforbike noted that since the order was issued, port operations have improved and all agencies have been placed on their toes.
Shipping Position Daily recalls that the Comptroller General of Customs had announced in Lagos recently that on account of series of arms at were seizure at Tin Can Ports, the customs would have to suspend ease of doing business and would rather go for 100 percent examination of containers.
But speaking at the press briefing, Oforbike stated that ANLCA members were not scared of 100 percent cargo examination, saying that most times, it is the terminal operators that shy away from dropping the containers due to space, equipment and manpower constraints.
He said if it is implemented, ease of doing business would reduce the cost of goods in the market, noting that the multiplicity of agencies in the port is all about corruption.
"It is wrong for a CGC to say that the order of the President is none and void, the executive order is good for us, the ease of doing business is to remove illegal road blocks that customs mounted on at our ports"
"The vice president directive orders must be implemented, he didn't say that containers should not be examined, he did not say that CIU should not do its work, but it says that if you are not supposed to be on duty, you must not be in the port"
"The ease of doing business is also about declaring what you have in your container so that it can go quickly"
"Because customs is not getting what they are usually getting they are now saying that the executive order is affecting them, it is an aberration, the CGC cannot confront the Vice president on an executive order, he can only advise on the implication"
Oforbike argued that containers already examined by customs officers should not be stopped at the gate by other officers, it slows down the pace of clearance, and it is all about corruption.
"We want the executive order to work at the port, it would make things east for everybody" He said
According to him, it is the duty of customs to use its discretion to carry out examination. He said that clearing agents have already paid for the examination of the containers
In most cases, he said that terminal operators are the ones that fail to drop the containers for examination because of lack of space, machinery and manpower.
"It is left for customs, if they want to do 100 percent of 200 percent examination, it is their business, we have already paid for physical examination, it is even good for us, we are not part of those hiding from customs"
The press briefing was addressed by Sir Oforbike alongside Chairmen of Tin Can, Apapa, KLT, PTML, and Seme chapter, as well as other senior executive members of the zone.
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