The Association of Nigerian Licensed customs Agents (ANLCA), Seme Chapter has reiterated it commitment to resolve challenges faced by its members in clearing vehicles from the Seme border post, even as it promised to tackle headlong, problems associated with double clearance of vehicles.
The association disclosed that there are problems surrounding releasing officers of the Nigerian Customs Service at vehicles seat in Seme, stressing the need to harmonize activities of the Federal Operations Unit of Customs and that of Seme command respectively.
Speaking to journalists in Lagos last week, Chairman of Seme Chapter of ANLCA, Barrister Bisiriyu Fanu alleged that when an officer of customs releases a vehicle at the border command, the same officer will fault the vehicle release.
The newly elected chairman also lauded the new Controller in charge of Seme command , Comptroller Victor Dimka for making effort in ensuring that the issue of multiple check point is addressed. Shipping Position Daily learnt last week that not less than 17 checkpoints have been dismantled by the customs CAC.
Fanu added that “it is not farfetched because everybody knows what we are faced with at the border”
“We have a lot of problem here and that is especially at the vehicle seat and I know we will address those problem to the satisfaction of the agents”
“We will tackle the problem especially at the release seat because when an officer releases a vehicle, another officer will stop it along the road and say the duty paid is low, we want to see how we can harmonize both FOU and Seme command operations to make sure that when a vehicle is release by an officer , the same officers will not say the job is not good”
According to him, members of ANLCA will support the customs to ensure that multiple checkpoints along the expressway disappears, he stressed the need for the reduction of the number officers on the road.
He pointed out that Agbara and Gbaji remains the two legal checkpoints for officers of the customs; saying that vehicle imported through Cotonou port are delivered to Nigerian customs genuinely.
Speaking on the delivery of the imported vehicles from the customs of Benin Republic, the Chairman lamented that the items are not seen on Monday , stressing the need for the neighbouring customs to bring vehicles to the Nigerian frontiers on a daily basis.
“In the area of vehicles, Cotonou customs deliver the vehicles to Nigerian customs though it is not the way we want it because they don’t come on Monday’s and we are trying to see how we can make arrangement for them to come everyday because most importers and buyers want to move as soon as they get the vehicles”
He however assured that issue surrounding delays in vehicle clearance is of paramount.
Fanu also affirmed that there has been drastic reduction of vehicles smuggled into the country and the new controller in charge of Seme customs command will further bring smuggling activities to the barest minimum.
He described the new controller as a partner in progress in ensuring that smuggling is eradicated from the border post.
Fanu further advised the controller to encourage trade facilitation from the frontiers, in order to encourage vibrant business activities among both countries.
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