The Federal Ministry of Transportation and the Nigeria Customs Service claim to be working together to develop and put into effect policies that will improve trade facilitation.
This Punch reported that this was stated on Thursday in Abuja when the Assistant Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, hosted a delegation from the Federal Ministry of Transport, headed by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Dr. Magdalene Ajani.
Adeniyi stated that in order to ensure the removal of overdue commodities from the ports, the service would utilize the Customs and Excise Management Act 2023 as amended.
In his words, “I have always believed that the Customs administration should act as a genuine agent for trade facilitation.”
The head of Customs noted that by working constructively with stakeholders involved in related port operations, the NCS would implement steps to increase the efficiency and competitiveness of ports throughout the country.
Adeniyi said, “It is evident that the Nigerian law has authorized the Customs Service to synergize with security institutions and other government agencies.”
The comptroller-general also pledged to put the interests of business and the private sector first by promising to start creative initiatives that will solve some important global challenges.
“I want to reassure you that the NCS has a new spirit now that will enable it to live up to its capability as enshrined in the constitution,” he said.
He declared, “The problem of congestion at our ports will be the main issue involved in this case, and we are going to implement measures that will diligently address this matter.”
According to him, traders are now not allowed to stack cargo and containers at the ports for an extended period of time according to the NCS Act 2023.
Adeniyi emphasized that the agency will enable the auction or destroy such items, as the case may be. Therefore, he persuaded the stakeholders to collaborate with the service to implement policies that would create sufficient space at the ports.
