By: Anne Ejuka
The Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) yesterday at its National Executive Council meeting held at its Dikko Inde House secretariat lamented the low level of the importation of goods into the country.
In a well attended meeting which had executive committee members of the association from the different zones of the country in attendance, the President of the association, Hon. Iju Tony Nwabunike made the assertion while presenting his speech at the occasion. In his words, “There is need for the national executive committee of ANLCA to seek audience with the federal government through the Federal Ministry of Finance before things gets out of hand. The level of importation has dropped drastically by about fifty percent (50%) lately as a result of the high handedness by the present management team of the Nigeria Customs Service""
One should recall that both the ANLCA and the management team of the NCS have been at Loggerhead over several areas of disagreement which resulted in the latter accusing the ANLCA of obstructing the NCS in performing its statutory functions.
While speaking, the ANLCA President made reference to the letter of accusation and the subsequent invitation by the National Assembly in Abuja for proper clarification of the imbroglio. He said the encounter at the National Assembly resulted in ANLCA convincing the House Committee on Customs to force the Nigeria Customs Service to discuss with its national executive committee on all issues particularly the arbitrary jack up of the value of the Pre-Arrival Assessment Report (PAAR) and that in line with the World Customs Organisation (WCO) 2013 recommendations that all Customs Organisations must form synergies with Brokers Associations by forming the Customs Consultative Council (CCC). ANLCA has always accursed the NCS of negating the international best practice leading to the low level of the Logistics Performance Index (LPI) in Nigeria’s cargo deliverance output according to the rating by the World Bank.
The association also used the forum to call for the reorganisation of the management team of the NCS in order to revamp the ailing national economy. They also requested that the management give operators a Standard Operating Procedure that will be used in the implementation and operation of the newly acquired Scanners before they are bastardised.
On the very important matter of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), the Association has nominated several persons who include it’s vice president, (Dr.) Kayode Collins Farinto to represent her at the federal government level as they ask their members who have good contributions to make to submit their suggestions to either their representatives or through the NECOM.