Customs, other agencies explore areas of collaboration
NAN-H-10
Customs
By Aisha Cole
Lagos, May 23, 2017 (NAN) Comptroller Emmanuel Edede, the Customs Area Controller, Murtala Muhammed International Airport Command, Lagos, has urged stakeholders at the airport to collaborate to carry out fiscal and economic policies of the Federal Government.
Edede made the plea during courtesy visits to heads of Federal Government agencies at the airport on Tuesday.
The controller said his visits were meant to seek the cooperation and understanding of other agencies so that the service could effectively carry out its duties at the airport, while also giving support to other agencies.
Edede said that no agency of government could achieve anything by working alone.
He, therefore, appealed to all agencies to support the Customs, Murtala Muhammed Command, especially in the area of revenue collection and suppression of smuggling at the airport.
The controller noted that all government agencies had their mandates to implement.
“To achieve this, all agencies of government need to collaborate by sharing timely intelligence that could assist them in carrying out their duties.
“In Adamawa where I am coming from, the military and para-military agencies had a good inter-agency relationship. Intelligence was promptly shared, especially as regards smuggling and Boko Haram.
“This to a large extent helped to improve revenue and reduced smuggling significantly,’’ Edede said.
The controller visited the Nigeria Immigration Services (NIS), Nigerian Air Force, the Nigeria Police, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and National Foods, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).
All heads of agencies at the airport pledged to accord Customs all necessary support in the discharge of their duties.
The controller also met with officials of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) and the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) as well as their members in an interactive session.
The Customs agents pledged to work with the controller in order to ensure trade facilitation at the command.
He assured the agents of an open-door policy and told them to feel free to see him anytime they have complaints.
Edede, however, said the agents must obey the rules and regulations, do honest declarations and avoid cutting corners if they want to enjoy Customs’ support.
He said if all stakeholders could meet all requirements by making honest declarations and paying appropriate duty on their cargoes, there shall be no delays in cargo clearance.
“We have a clear mandate on revenue, which we shall not compromise.
“As long as the right thing is done, I can assure you that no officer will delay your cargo,’’ the controller said. (NAN)
AIC/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola