ACG, ZONE “A” VISITS NAGAFF, SAYS THERE IS HIGHER COMPLIANCE IN CUSTOMS

…AS ZONE COLLECTS N5.5B DAILY

Dr Boniface Aniebonam with ACG Ekekezie

The Zonal Coordinator, Zone ‘A’ of the Nigeria Customs Service , Assistant Comptroller General of Customs (ACG) Mrs K C Ekekezie , on Thursday paid a courtesy visit to the headquarters of National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) in Lagos State.
ACG Ekekezie during the visit revealed that the commands under her watch in the Southwest zone collects a whooping N5.5 billion revenue on a daily basis into the coffers of the federal government.
She also said that the huge collection is due to increase compliance by freight forwarders and Officers and Men of the the Nigeria Customs Service in the zone.

According to her “the role that freight forwarders play in the release of goods are the part of every government trade policy formulation. Ease of doing business policy started at Apapa Port this and is working.
“The customs have deployed Internet Technology (IT) to meet the policy target.
“Today there is higher compliance with customs regulations in declarations, we make N5.5bn every day because people are beginning to comply. Customs earnings is part of what is used in paying the security agencies too.
“The cipliance level we have seen recently. Customs made under the new regime N1trn. Before it was not up to that. Proper documentation and correct declarations we will achieve higher goals together with you.
“To consolidate on the good work to achieve this, we must adhere to all extent regulations as provided by the government. And this will not be a problem when we put mechanism on place.
“This will lead improved national economic system. We must avoid cutting corners and encourage integrity in all levels of the business.

Ekekezie maintained that there is a new regime of discipline in the Service which has led to torrent of officers being sacked in recent time. In her words “In Nigeria Customs today, several officers are finding their ways out each time we go for management meetings Officers are being de -ranked and some dismissed.”
She called on members of NAGAFF to always comply by trade regulations in order to help the Service facilitate legitimate trade and to generate maximum revenue to government coffers.
She therefore called on all freight forwarders whose cargoes are unnecessarily delayed in the ports should report such to the her office.

In his response the founder of NAGAFF, Dr. Boniface Aniebonam frowned at the recent hike in forex on international trade by the government.
Aniebonam maintained that the service would have called for a stakeholders meeting to explain the reasons behind the hike in dollars saying the hike will add to high cost of cleaning goods and that of goods in the market.