The Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) has given its support to the planned regular raiding of Tin Can port as promised by the command’s Customs Area Controller; Mr Tajudeen Aremu.
The Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) has given its support to the planned regular raiding of Tin Can port as promised by the command’s Customs Area Controller; Mr Tajudeen Aremu.
Reacting to the threat which was handed down on Tuesday by the Customs boss at a stakeholders meeting at the command, the national president of ANLCA; Prince Olayiwola Shittu said in as much as ANLCA throws it weight behind any move that will rid the ports of unwanted persons who masquerade as clearing agents, it will not stand and watch any move that will lead to indiscriminate arrest of ANLCA members who carry the association’s valid biometric identity card.
“We have encouraged raiding, but the information that he doesn’t regard anybody’s ID card is unacceptable, we didn’t issue our identity card to please the CAC, we issued our biometric identity card for our people to identify themselves. I have my biometric ID card, my company’s name is there, if I have documents for clearing that do not tally with my company’s identity , let him arrest me. The CAC will not tell ANLCA or NAGAFF what type of ID to give to its members”, he maintained.
He said it was not within the mandate of the Customs Area Controller to determine the form of identification that licensed customs agents will carry.
Shipping Position Daily recalls that the Tin Can port Customs boss had vowed at the Tuesday stakeholders meeting which was attended by the leadership of freight forwarding associations to embark on random patrol and arrest of questionable persons loitering around the port.
The controller had also insinuated that it may discountenance the biometric identification of freight forwarding associations if the bearers do not have genuine customs documents or a genuine reason to be inside the port at the time of the raid.
He had also said that to facilitate the impending raid, the Customs have also concluded arrangements with the courts in order to ensure speedy conviction of whoever is arrested.
"We have spoken with the Police and the Port Manager, we cannot afford the crowds at the port again, what we are doing is to start a patrol, headquarters has given us a vehicle which we will use to patrol, this process will lead to as many raids as possible"
"We are determined to change the port within the time that we are here, we will encourage trade facilitation for those who are compliant, we want to ensure that we enhance revenue, we must enhance security"
But the ANLCA president argued that its biometric is foolproof, but warned members of the association not to loiter around the port to avoid being cut in the web of the raid.
ANLCA did not say that because you have biometric identification card, you go and queue at the CPC loitering around and doing nothing. “We have told our members that if you don’t have any business in the port, stay in your office, read the tariffs and explanatory notes”, advised.
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