Gambo Paul (Customs Officer)
The annual CG conference that was cancelled is okay, because there must be a purpose for the cancellation. Like the CG has said, the time devoted to it will be dedicated to training of officers, and I think its good enough, because there is need for the training. Not holding the conference does not stop the CG from meeting with stakeholders on how best to develop our country economically and trade wise. So conference or no conference, we are moving.
Oladipo Bolade (PRO, ANLCA, Tin Can Chapter)
I don’t see anything bad in the decision taken by the Comptroller General. He must have had his own blue print when he resumed office, so, his method of operation might not necessarily follow the ones of the past regime. For example, the process that we used in clearing before is not the same method that we are using now and since he is the first comptroller general who will not to hold the conference, he must have had his own reasons.
Or maybe in his own wisdom he thought this is not time for such a jamboree conference, because the decision has to do with every individual. It will be wasteful to fix a conference when there is no issue to discuss and the meeting is unnecessary. Maybe, he thought there is no reason yet to warrant such a meeting. As we all know, he just came in and he is probably still putting some things into place and organizing his men and sincerely he has been making his own impacts.
Chinedu Ogbonna (PRO Customs, PTML Command)
The C.G annual conference is not a ritual that should be looked forward to. It was an idea that was initiated under the past regimes in order to interact with stakeholders; it is not a compulsory thing in the customs agenda.
The Comptroller General has adopted another strategy by going round to the various commands and different areas of focus. He has held series of meetings with Area Controllers of every command as well as importers, customs agents, maritime operators and stakeholders in general. The issues that needs to be discussed and attended to are being tackled through this means, hence there is no further need for any conference or gathering together.
Segun Alabi (Clearing Agent)
We are not customs personnel, but customs agent, the CG conference is exclusively meant for the customs. If the CG says it’s not holding, there should be a reason, since the cancellation doesn’t affect our operations, I still support the idea of the CG canceling the conference.
More time and effort should be dedicated to training their agents after licensing them so that their intentions won’t be contravened.
Despite the fact that issues discussed will benefit us directly or indirectly, it can still be discussed without holding the conference.
Yusuf Adekanbi (Clearing Agent)
I think the idea is good, though I don’t know what is behind the motive of the CG. From my own perspective, he has putting a round pegs in a round holes
Take for instance the ongoing two weeks course for agents, rather than the conference, issues like these may not see day light. The course will go a long way in helping the agents and customs and it will in turn be a way forward for the development of our great country Nigeria.
Finally, he has his agenda and I believe he knows what he is doing as an operations person who knows the job totally.
Tajudeen Olanrewaju (Clearing Agent)
He did not need to cancel the conference, the reasons given for the cancellation from my perspective are not genuine enough, he knows what it entails and he has been a part of this conference before now.
The CG is wise enough and he knows everything about the process of shipping, if canceling the conference is for more training then there are more reasons behind it. I was thinking it would hold so that we can ask our prepared questions and dialogue.
Mike Omilani (Stakeholder)
The decision to cancel customs annual conference is best known to Alhaji Hamman. Bello Ahmed, being the Customs Comptroller General.
However the aim and objective of annual conference is to harmonize all stakeholders appraisal and put an end to their shortcomings in the year under review.
Now that the conference has been scrapped without cogent reason, the purpose of such forum has been defeated. Whoever is not ready for any kind of criticism such person is not ready to learn.
May I ask the controller general what is the way forward or any substitute to Customs Annual Conference. We know the invisible income generated by customs annually to the Federal Government. Therefore the Comptroller General cannot tell us that Customs are financially handicap. The Comptroller General should expatiate on the reason for the cancellation.
Eugene Nweke (Deputy President, NAGAFF)
The action is commendable and I believe it’s a welcome development; it’s a step in the right direction. Right from the days of Buba, the idea of the conference has been lost. It should be done by customs and they will only invite stakeholders to dialogue on issues on how to develop the maritime industry in general.
The conference is meant to be for capacity building and not for jamboree that most people took it to be, the impression of most people is that it is for merry making etc. The idea of scraping it is okay so far there is going to be room for capacity building amongst customs.
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