Chief Emmanuel Tobi (Vice president, ANLCA, PTML)
I don’t support the creation of another task force because if government could not trust the recommendations of the former one, how are we sure that they will take this one seriously; they should have allowed the one they formed to finish their job properly instead of going ahead to form another one. They should make the recommendations of the task force a public document for all of us to read, make the findings public for every body to see so that we can tackle the problems. They should have sought public opinion on these findings before deciding to constitute another. The custom is trying their best in terms of revenue and I don’t think there is anything they can do again, they are not magicians, the customs are trying in the sense that they have been able to minimize fraud by introducing the e-payment and other schemes even though the e-payment is not properly done yet because there is not supposed to be custom officers at the gate again, once duty is paid you take your goods and go away.
Abdulakeem Akanji (Mikkol Maritime Services ltd)
I think it is okay in the sense that if the first task- force did not perform up to expectations, government has the right to review it and constitute another one which they have done. In order to actualize the government’s aim, I think it is necessary. I heard that they have been given three month to operate and I believe this will enable us compare the former task force findings with the current one so as to determine how to forge ahead. Normally, in any government parastatal there should be reviews often and often because some people may be there and they are not working at all, some are there but are corrupt and so there is need for reforms either on revenue basis, on work force and performance of each customs officer because they are the second highest revenue collector in the country. If the task force observes that there are lapses, then they have to put new hands on the job because we still have not been able to actualize the 48-hour clearance, it shouldn’t take more than two days for your cargo to get out of the ports and all along the customs have still not been able to actualize this dream. The task force has to know what is constituting the delay at the port, if it is the agents, the customs or the systems they have introduced which includes the AYCUDA++, let us know if all needs to be reviewed. So I support the ideas if only at the end of the day they are going to abide by the recommendations of the task force.
Simeon Olua (National Treasurer, NAGAFF)
I appreciate the government for setting up a committee to appraise the customs. It is good they are introducing the task force to assess the standard of the Nigeria Customs Service. I think the task force is necessary and based on the calibre of the retired customs officers we have in that committee and other experienced people, I know they will come out with good recommendations, but I can say that freight forwarders should have been represented fully on how to upgrade the customs because they are the ones that transact business with the Nigeria customs on daily basis, if there is anything like upgrading we are the ones to recommend the areas government should concentrate on.
Andrew Nwoka (Importer)
If the old order that is still in place and I don’t think this task force can achieve anything, it is a nightmare working in the ports of this country and these problems are man made problems which are not obtainable in other countries. I believe that everyone has a share in this problem. There is need for close monitoring of customs activities because as it is when they are posted to the hinterland that many of them will refuse to go, they believe the port is where the money is. Also the reform should start from the head officer because that is where the corruption is emanating from, illegality have became the order of the day for them and they believe they can do it and go away with it.
Ikeh Bonn (Customs Agent)
Let the customs go back to their drawing board because as far as I am concerned what is happening now is not encouraging and it’s affecting the importers. I think the task force is very essential in order to reduce peoples’ sufferings and the hell we are passing through. If the task force is properly constituted and they bring in people who know the industry, I think things will be easier
Charles Ubah (Clearing Agent)
First let me ask: who is ‘task forcing’ who? On this team, we have ex-customs officers, is it now they will come and achieve what they could not when they were in service? The problem is not the Nigeria Customs Service, but the implementation of policies, government say 48-hour cargo clearance, but until now, it is still not realizable. For us to appreciate the customs, there must be a data base, there should be improved welfare packages for them to prevent them from being lured to corruption, there is this believe that once you are customs officer you are a potential millionaire, that perception must be removed. Also, there need to be attitudinal change to work if indeed we want to reform the customs. It is not only the customs that constitute delays in the clearance process, shipping companies, terminal operators, clearing agents and importers are all part of the chain, what is required is constant sensitization right from the top management to the lower level managers. So if we are talking about creating a task force for customs it might end up just a lip service. We have to change ourselves individually before we can achieve a holistic reform in the system.
Walter Ukaegbu (Maritime journalist)
It is a welcome development, the former committee that was set up which included Ahmed Mustapha and others did not really do any conclusive work, what they did was to work on the periphery and which the federal ministry of finance has pointed out and this is why they set up this new one so as to streamline all they have noted. They are given three weeks to carry out their work; it is not a big committee as such that will take long before they submit their findings. Actually there are always so many committees set up in that line, that a committee should be set up is important but what is of concern is the way they go about their job, most people given this job do not do what they are told to do, they just see it as an opportunity to collect the allowance, bask in the euphoria and then go away without doing anything. I see it as an avenue to just create jobs for the boys because even if you look at the composition of this new committee, you will see ex-custom officers. Let’s just hope that they will come up with some facts.
Discussion about this post