Ports Compliance Team Vows to Expose Corrupt Customs Officers, Others at Ports
*Says customs officers involved in clearing should quit jobs
By Onyinye Apeh
The Compliance Team set up by the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGFF) to check trade malpractices at the nation’s seaports said it is determined to expose customs officers and other government security agents who are involved in corrupt practices.
National Co-ordinator of the Team, Alhaji Ibrahim Tanko who said it was time to expose all ills affecting trade facilitation at the ports, insisted that nobody will be spared for trade sanity to be at the ports.
Tanko told newsmen during a briefing that freight forwarders have been suffering so much as a result of corrupt practices involving customs officers and other government agents at the ports.
He disclosed that some customs officers have as much as five camp boys who according to him, adding that this was simply to extort importers and their agents.
He also disclosed that some customs officers were now
into clearing jobs, lamenting that they have taken over their clients.
Tanko vowed that his Tam would expose such officers, advising that
if they want to do clearing jobs, they should quit their jobs.
He announced a 10-point agenda which the team expects to accomplish in the next six months.
Among the 10-point agenda include: to assist the Nigerian Customs achieve its revenue objective; educate freight forwarders on the need to play by the rules; impress on importers on the need for honest declaration; expose corrupt practices in the system.
Others include: to assist regulatory agencies such as SON, NAFDAC to maintain standards in products; to protect the interest of freight forwarders in disputes; to hold government agencies accountable for infractions; to be the voice of freight forwarders in the industry and to dispel the fear of the unknown of the road in cargo delivery.
Tanko said achieving the 10-point agenda has become necessary for the best interest of the freight forwarders who according to him have continued to suffer under trade malpractices.
He also disclosed that 80 percent of freight forwarders have become hypertensive due to challenges in cargo clearing at the ports.
He said freight forwarders use their own companies to clear goods for importers without knowing what could be in the containers, adding that in the event of any issue, it is the customs agent that suffers.
He advised customs agents to stop this practice as a way of saving themselves from such problems.
The Team will today flag off visits to bonded terminals as part of the drive to check trade malpractices in the system.
According to Tanko, the Team will move to the Eastern Ports after visiting the terminals in Lagos.
By Onyinye Apeh
The Compliance Team set up by the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGFF) to check trade malpractices at the nation’s seaports said it is determined to expose customs officers and other government security agents who are involved in corrupt practices.
National Co-ordinator of the Team, Alhaji Ibrahim Tanko who said it was time to expose all ills affecting trade facilitation at the ports, insisted that nobody will be spared for trade sanity to be at the ports.
Tanko told newsmen during a briefing that freight forwarders have been suffering so much as a result of corrupt practices involving customs officers and other government agents at the ports.
He disclosed that some customs officers have as much as five camp boys who according to him, adding that this was simply to extort importers and their agents.
He also disclosed that some customs officers were now
into clearing jobs, lamenting that they have taken over their clients.
Tanko vowed that his Tam would expose such officers, advising that
if they want to do clearing jobs, they should quit their jobs.
He announced a 10-point agenda which the team expects to accomplish in the next six months.
Among the 10-point agenda include: to assist the Nigerian Customs achieve its revenue objective; educate freight forwarders on the need to play by the rules; impress on importers on the need for honest declaration; expose corrupt practices in the system.
Others include: to assist regulatory agencies such as SON, NAFDAC to maintain standards in products; to protect the interest of freight forwarders in disputes; to hold government agencies accountable for infractions; to be the voice of freight forwarders in the industry and to dispel the fear of the unknown of the road in cargo delivery.
Tanko said achieving the 10-point agenda has become necessary for the best interest of the freight forwarders who according to him have continued to suffer under trade malpractices.
He also disclosed that 80 percent of freight forwarders have become hypertensive due to challenges in cargo clearing at the ports.
He said freight forwarders use their own companies to clear goods for importers without knowing what could be in the containers, adding that in the event of any issue, it is the customs agent that suffers.
He advised customs agents to stop this practice as a way of saving themselves from such problems.
The Team will today flag off visits to bonded terminals as part of the drive to check trade malpractices in the system.
According to Tanko, the Team will move to the Eastern Ports after visiting the terminals in Lagos.
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