ANLCA Joins NAGAFF to Clamour for Return of SON to Seaports
SON DG
*Importation of substandard goods killing Nigerian economy, Says SON DG
By Our Reporter
Members of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) have joined in the clamour for the return of operatives of the Standard of Nigeria to the seaports.
SON was among other agencies which were asked to leave the seaports some years ago to reduce the level of delay in goods examination.
But at a forum of stakeholders held in Apapa on Thursday, the Vice President ANLCA Dr Kayode Farinto said the return of SON to the ports to be part of goods examination was imperative.
Farinto said this will help in the fight against importation of substandard goods into the country.
He argued that if the country wants to win the war against substandard imports, the agency which has the statutory responsibility must be part of goods examination at the ports.
Speaking on the a topic titled, “Juxtaposing Substandard Imports; SON’s Absence At Seaport,” he said that the rise in imports of substandard goods after SON left the seaports some years back has proved that the executive order barring them from being part of goods examination at the ports should be reviewed.
According to him, SON’s absence in the ports encourages more smuggling as the agency only depends on information given to it to be able to act.
He said, “If we must achieve ease of doing business, then freight forwarders, Licensed Customs Brokers, should do away with dishonesty in their declarations in order to circumvent the procedures, which impedes ease of doing business”.
The President of NAGAFF, Chief Tochukwu Ezisi, was not opposed to the return of SON to the ports.
It would be recalled that NAGAFF has been in the forefront for SON t to be at the ports as the Founder, Dr. Boniface Aniebonam last year said this will save importers the nightmare of having to be stopped for checks by SON operatives after a container had left the seaports.
Ezeisi who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Rev. Emma Agunbaze, said there was the need to engage the stakeholders on the issue of return to the seaport for proper consideration..
He however praised SON on its efforts on the ease of doing business.
The Director-General of SON, Mallam Farouk Salim in an address said importation of substandard goods was part of the reason for insecurity in the country.
Samlim said the country cannot continue with influx of substandard goods imports considering the negative impact to the economy.
He also added that importation of substandard goods has been killing the nation’s economy.
Salim said, “The reason for this gathering is to make sure that we try to sensitize each other in what we look out for. When we take any product as substandard, we are not here to spoil anybody’s products. We are doing it to protect your business and the people that buy the products.
“In other climes, when you buy a product and sell it to the public and the public get injured or they don’t get satisfaction with the product, the seller would get sued. When you get sued, you lose a lot of money, sometimes, you may land in jail.
“In Nigeria, we have to develop to that level. We have the laws but we have not developed to the level where some will go and buy substandard cable and sell it to Nigerians and get jailed for that.”
By Our Reporter
Members of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) have joined in the clamour for the return of operatives of the Standard of Nigeria to the seaports.
SON was among other agencies which were asked to leave the seaports some years ago to reduce the level of delay in goods examination.
But at a forum of stakeholders held in Apapa on Thursday, the Vice President ANLCA Dr Kayode Farinto said the return of SON to the ports to be part of goods examination was imperative.
Farinto said this will help in the fight against importation of substandard goods into the country.
He argued that if the country wants to win the war against substandard imports, the agency which has the statutory responsibility must be part of goods examination at the ports.
Speaking on the a topic titled, “Juxtaposing Substandard Imports; SON’s Absence At Seaport,” he said that the rise in imports of substandard goods after SON left the seaports some years back has proved that the executive order barring them from being part of goods examination at the ports should be reviewed.
According to him, SON’s absence in the ports encourages more smuggling as the agency only depends on information given to it to be able to act.
He said, “If we must achieve ease of doing business, then freight forwarders, Licensed Customs Brokers, should do away with dishonesty in their declarations in order to circumvent the procedures, which impedes ease of doing business”.
The President of NAGAFF, Chief Tochukwu Ezisi, was not opposed to the return of SON to the ports.
It would be recalled that NAGAFF has been in the forefront for SON t to be at the ports as the Founder, Dr. Boniface Aniebonam last year said this will save importers the nightmare of having to be stopped for checks by SON operatives after a container had left the seaports.
Ezeisi who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Rev. Emma Agunbaze, said there was the need to engage the stakeholders on the issue of return to the seaport for proper consideration..
He however praised SON on its efforts on the ease of doing business.
The Director-General of SON, Mallam Farouk Salim in an address said importation of substandard goods was part of the reason for insecurity in the country.
Samlim said the country cannot continue with influx of substandard goods imports considering the negative impact to the economy.
He also added that importation of substandard goods has been killing the nation’s economy.
Salim said, “The reason for this gathering is to make sure that we try to sensitize each other in what we look out for. When we take any product as substandard, we are not here to spoil anybody’s products. We are doing it to protect your business and the people that buy the products.
“In other climes, when you buy a product and sell it to the public and the public get injured or they don’t get satisfaction with the product, the seller would get sued. When you get sued, you lose a lot of money, sometimes, you may land in jail.
“In Nigeria, we have to develop to that level. We have the laws but we have not developed to the level where some will go and buy substandard cable and sell it to Nigerians and get jailed for that.”
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