What’s your reaction to the recent shooting of a clearing agent by a Customs officer?

Babatunde Mukaila (ANLCA National Secretary)

It’s uncalled for and that goes to show the agitation that we have been clamouring for, there should not be under the table data list, it should be made open. I have been in a meeting where the Customs CG directed that the data list be made open, we are tired of giving bribe, no agent will like to do that, we are professionals, name the bill let the importer pick their bill and then we take our service charge, there shouldn’t be any reason to bribe. The shooting
is uncalled for and I think the officer should be prosecuted, because, if he is not brought to book, I foresee a dangerous trend that will continue. It is a modern world, if you have
anything against any declaration you can alert it.

Stanley Ezenga (NAGAFF)

The fact remains that the Customs are high-handed in relations to trade facilitation. Don’t forget that the vehicle has passed through due process inside the port, it was examined by proper officer, so whatever happens on the road the officer should have taken congnizance that the vehicle is coming from the port, if they can shoot an agent on flimsy excuse, now imagine what their mindset looks like.

Ojo Peter Akintoye

The shooting is barbaric, and we won’t take that, because an injury to one is an injury to all, the officer who shot the officer should be examined and brought to book.

Frank Ogunojemite (APFFLON President)

It is shameful to Nigeria Customs Service, instead of them to apologise; they are saying he is not a freight forwarder. Whoever he is, at least they should apologise, there after they can investigate whether he is a freight forwarder or not. The government needs to intervene and ensure that the officer who shot the agent is brought to book; imagine if this is happening in the city, what then will happen in the border communities?

Pius Ujubounu (Clearing Agent)

Well, I was not an eyewitness, all I know is that the issue of Customs and Police harassment is alarming in our life. In fact, it is unregulated in the process of our clearing, a
situation where we have something close to 14 to 15 different Customs formations intervening in jobs, its amount to extortion. How could an agent be shot on the way and the place the agent was even shot was in front of a port and the people who did that are said to be Customs
officers who are staying outside the gate of a Customs port, it is an embarrassing situation.

Olumide Fakanlu

The incident is a condemnable and a barbaric action, arrest of the agent should have been better than shooting him.