Tin Can Island Customs To Train Clearing Agents

The Area Controller of the Tin Can Island Command of the Nigeria Customs Service, Mr. Yussuf Bashir has said the command is commencing training and re-training of clearing agents and freight forwarders operating at the command.
Public Relations Officer of the command, Mr. Chris Osunkwo revealed the plans to Shipping Position Daily last week, saying that the command usually conducts training programmes for the operators but that it has been suspended for a while now.‎
He told our correspondent that the training will be done at the Customs Training School in Ikeja, Lagos and that the customs usually write letters to the various associations to send representatives to the programme.
Osunkwo lamented that many of the people masquerading as agents around the Customs Processing Centre (CPC) are glorified touts; he said they have nothing to offer and they do not understand customs language.
Speaking on the training programme, Osunkwo said: “We pick from all the recognized freight forwarding groups‎, we write to them. Some of the programmes are thrown open, we have officers and consultants and sometimes they have to pay some money, but in some they are written and they now nominate those they want to attend”
“It is done at the Training College in Ikeja. There was a time that renewal and obtaining licenses was attached to such courses, you must attach photocopy of your certificates. This is done by the license and permit department of customs‎” he said.
The customs image maker said that the CAC being a former head of ICT at Customs headquarters is trying his best to help clearing agents and freight forwarders become knowledgeable, because customs clearing is knowledge based.
While speaking on the coming training, Vice Chairman of Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA); Barr Ada Akpunonu said that ‎customs brokerage is a noble profession and that ANLCA appreciates the CAC’s plans to train operators in Tin Can port.
She equally lauded the national president of ANLCA, Prince Olayiwola Shittu for bringing professionalism into the association.
“I give kudos to Prince Shittu for bringing professionalism, training and re-training into ANLCA; he has brought the association to where it is supposed to be. For anyone to contest in the association now, he must be ICT-compliant and must have attended certain training programmes” she said.