Mr. Lamin Aliyu, National Chairman of the ANLCA 100% Compliance team.
Story by Dili Utomi.
The desire of members of the Licensed Customs Agents fraternity to bring to an end the bad image of being called corner cutters and unprofessional has necessitated an action which has given birth to the Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents’ (ANLCA) launch of the 100% Compliance team.
The Association’s Airport unit office was a beehive of activities as it was used for the launch today. The national Chairman of the Compliance team Mr. Lamin Aliyu addressed newsman at the unit office as he also introduced members of the team. Dr. Richard Olalere is a member of the team, Mr. Patrick Aropopo and Mr. Honesty Effiong are all members that were present at the press briefing.
Some members of the Compliance team L-R Lamin Aliyu, Dr. Richard Olalere, Patrick Aropopo and Honesty Effiong at the press briefing.
He said that the decision to start their sensitisation campaign at the Airport was for some good reasons. He referred to a letter sent to the national assembly by the Nigeria Customs Service that the Association is against the 100% examination of cargoes and said that that allegation is part of what informed the setting up of this team. Mr. Aliyu said that by this action no one should entertain any fear as they are fully ready to help the Customs to conduct 100% examination of all cargoes.
While also speaking, he commended the Controller General of Customs for his commitment to the course of proper cargo examination and duty payment which has resulted in higher amounts of revenue recently generated.
Dr Richard Olalere also spoke on the occassion and said that they are fully committed to this course in order to have jobs done professionally and also to be able to put a stop to the incidence of creation of multilayered units with the attendant duplication of functions by the Customs.
At the question and answer session, Mr. Aliyu said that they also opted to ask everyone to subject all cargoes to 100% examination because there are no scanners to carry out the job of cargo examination and there seams to be no alternative to this 100% physical examination right now. He said that though it may be time consuming, but that it is in best the interest of everyone for transparency and the building of trust.
Dr. Olalere further spoke about the intention of some agents at the Airport to go on strike and said that it has been averted as Airlines have been prevailed upon not to increase charges on cargoes for now.
Mr. Aliyu also cleared the air on issue of other Licensed Customs Agents who are not members of ANLCA not taking part in this campaign. He said the ANLCA is reaching out to other Associations and that they are all fully committed to the issue of 100% Compliance to all the rules. He called on all Port users to comply with the extant laws to bring efficiency into the movement of goods and services.
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