The National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) has accused the Nigeria Customs Service of breaching the Customs Exercise Management Act with impunity by deliberately resorting to licensing only corporate bodies despite the provisions other provisions by the Act.
NAGAFF made its position public following ACG Edike’s revelation during his recent visit to the NAGAFF village, that Direct Traders Input cafes would be closed and only corporate bodies licensed by the Customs would be given passwords to access the portal.
“We have said it that for the maritime sector reforms to be meaningful, particularly in the area of Customs modernization we have to professionalize the key operators by educating and training them to imbibe the spirit of international best practices. It is only an individual not a corporate body that can learn and acquire skills to fall in line with this Act.” the statement read.
NAGAFF highlighted the Legal Notice 95 of 1968 made pursuant to Section 156 of CEMA clearly state that the categories of those that the Nigeria Customs Board can Licence include; Corporate Bodies, Firms and Individuals.
The Association wrote an open letter to the Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adisun notifying her of the alleged mischievous practices of the Customs with regards to issuing licenses.
“We say unequivocally that this is not only wrong but shows a level of misunderstanding of the CEMA to complying with realities of trade dynamics with regards to trade facilitation and control of fraudulent practices”
The Association maintained that it also wanted to observe the inherent danger to revenue due to Government and security implications therein. “Many people hide under the veil of incorporation to perpetuate revenue crimes and security breaches in the Trade Logistics Supply Chain in our country”.
