Agents bemoan poor infrastructure at Onne port

The Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents has lamented poor road infrastructure at Onne port, urging the Federal Government to fix the roads.

The Onne Seaport chapter chairman of ANLCA, Mike Ebeatu, in a statement on Monday, urged the government to provide incentives that would make the port and other eastern ports attractive for importers and shippers.

He said that the chapter had been enjoying a cordial working relationship with officers of the Nigeria Customs Service.

The statement read in part, “For the umpteenth time, we once again urge the federal government to step up efforts at fixing our port access road from Port Harcourt through Eleme to Onne on time and create incentives to make the Onne and entire eastern ports attractive to importers and shippers.

“I have been inundated by some media reports alleging that officers of the NCS in Onne Port extort monies or demand bribes from licensed agents to exit consignments; this is untrue to the best of our knowledge. While we constantly engage the Customs for improved operational relationship, the association in Onne Port under my leadership frowns at any form of unlawful dealings like smuggling, under declaration, under valuation and concealment.”

The statement further said that there was constant engagement of members of the association on the ethics of the profession.

“Our members are constantly sensitized to operate in compliance with the extant import and export prohibition lists. They have no reason to pay bribes either at the points of examination or at the exit gate. We are aware that the giver and taker are liable by law and therefore distance ourselves from such things. Our confidence is rooted in our sincerity of purpose which has been passed to our importers too.”