Newly-elected executives of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) at Tin Can 2 chapter, Ijora have called on the Federal Government to take advantage of delay experienced in clearing goods at Apapa port to stem containers to the Tincan 2 terminal at Ijora.
The new executives while promising to work with both terminal operators and shipping companies to revitalise the command, also called on the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) to join forces in order to keep the idle customs officers at the command busy.
Speaking at the ANLCA National Secretariat in Amuwo Odofin Lagos at the weekend, Olufemi Olabanji, newly elected chairman of the Tin Can 2 chapter of ANLCA told newsmen shortly after the election that he would work with his executive members to bring life back to the command by going as far as the presidency to table the case.
Recall that there have been a lull at the Tincan 2 command over time due to refusal by terminal operators to stem containers to the terminal but the command relies solely on Free Trade Zone for revenue generation.
Olabanji however called the attention of the Federal Government to the fact that officers of the command are idling away adding that they should be engaged.
"I am going to work with the shipping companies because Lillypond is a full-fledged command like Apapa and Tin can and not a bonded terminal
"Now, the government needs to know what is happening. Look at the good and containers in Apapa, right now, if you book for examination in Apapa, it takes three to four days before they can drop your container for you and Lillypond is fallow, no container and it is a full command that needs to generate revenue for the federal government.
"We want government to look into this that Lillypond should work as a command, send vessel to Lillypond , because if you get there now, you will see the customs officers sitting and doing nothing, no container is coming and the government is paying salaries.
"Government is wasting a lot of money there without utilising the place," he said.
Among those elected into office at the Friday are Olufemi Olabanji as the chairman, Ogiagah Musa Eniola as Assistant Secretary, Olatunbosun Awonuga as the Treasurer and Olubola Odubola as the Public Relations Officer.
Discussion about this post