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National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) has frowned at the actions of the Nigeria Customs Cargo Examiners, describing their treatment of the stakeholders as “very unprofessional”
NAGAFF lamented that Customs Cargo Examiners were abusing the regime of destination inspection which is anchored on physical/automated Customs examination of imports.
The Association made this known in a press release sent to the media recently, acknowledging that Customs examiners ought to be the most strategic persons on the part of the Government to protect its interest but they have increased the level of connivance at the ports.
“It is very surprising that Customs examiners and other related Agencies of the Government who have the mandate of ensuring compliance to import and export regulations usually connive with the trading public to cheat the same Government they swore to an oath to serve and protect.
“Without prejudices to the relevant Sections of the Customs laws dealing with untrue declarations, the word trade facilitation must be for legitimate trade in-line with the laws governing international trade”, the report stated.
Meanwhile, NAGAFF appreciated the level of achievement by the Comptroller General of Customs Col. Hammed Ali (Rtd) at Jibiya Border of Katsina where the monopoly has been broken.
The Asssociation also maintained that the urgent need to ensure uniform application of Customs rules at all entry points of the Sea, Air, and Land Borders cannot be overemphasized.
NAGAFF also called for issues relating to uncoordinated alerts, frivolous value question, extortion, abuse of transire and other systemic corruption to be resolved by Nigeria Customs Service management soonest.
