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By Kenneth Jukpor
Despite the tough economic times occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic, Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) is believed to have generated over N500billion in the first half of the year.
The President of the Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Mr. Tony Iju Nwabunike revealed this in a press statement disseminated today in commemoration of this year’s occasion of Eid El Kabir.
“As customs brokers and freight forwarders, we contributed immensely to the realization of over N500billion half year revenue collected by Customs and ensured goods arrived at importers ‘ warehouses after exiting the ports through seamless logistics,” Nwabunike said.
Customs, however, is yet to publish the cumulative figure generated by the Service for the first half of the year.
The ANLCA President also commended freight forwarders for the courage and love displayed via commitment to Nigeria’s import dependent economy by working as essential service providers even in the face of lockdown in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Our professionalism and excellence in the face of logistics constraints like bad roads, suspended rail services for cargo movement, unfriendly and exploitative practices by shipping companies and terminal operators truly stands us out as economic caregivers. We have roles to play in helping Nigeria attain her expected Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of $250billion by the end of 2020. Let’s keep our eyes on the ball,” he said.
He felicitated with Muslim faithful, praying that the celebrations come with very symbolic messages capable of reinforcing their faith in the Almighty Allah and strengthening beliefs in His unseen but felt sustenance.
While joining the world to celebrate this feast of sacrifice and selfless giving,
However, he urged those celebrating not to let their guard down in the fight against the COVID-19 that has altered global economy, religious orders and social lifestyles.
“Remember to observe the safety guidelines of regular hand washing, frequent usage of hand sanitizers, avoid large gatherings, maintain physical distance rules and wear face masks as recommended by health authorities. I join you in this period of celebration and merry making while pleading that we celebrate responsibly. Barka de Sallah,” Nwabunike added.
