Dr. Budu right with Mr. Lameen Aliyu left of the Compliance Committee.
Story by Dili Utomi.
The Apapa chapter of the Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) and his executive committee members have continued to familiarise themselves with the different bonded terminals and the Customs officials at such terminals as they tour four more terminals within their jurisdiction.
The team in a picture pose at the Unity bonded terminal.
The chapter chairman of the association, Dr. Sylvester Budu in company with some of his executive members, Saheed Razak secretary, Lawrence Uba assistant secretary, Joseph Nnamocha financial secretary and Emeka Mbachu public relations officer as well as the national chairman of the Compliance committee of the association, Mr. Lameen Aliyu with some members of his team visited the Unity bonded terminal, the Classic one bonded terminal, the Fano bonded terminal and the Zammark bonded terminal all which are within and around the Amuwo Odofin industrial area of Lagos.
At the Unity bonded terminal, the team met with the Customs staff officer, I.O Ojegbu and the managing director of the terminal, Tobe Obidiagu. The staff officer welcomed the team, but declared that his principal was unavoidably absent to officially receive them, but the team spoke about their reason for the visit.
The team in a group photograph at the Classics Bonded Terminal.
Dr. Budu noted that the main objectives of visiting the terminal, was to acquaint themselves with the terminal, educate and sensitise them about the activities of their association as regards making jobs easier and tackling issues as they emerge, find ways of solving some of the issues that crop up on all sides of the business environment and to provide a known and well structured channel for dispute resolution. He noted that the compliance team will be on hand at the terminal to educate people about the proper channel to take in getting their jobs cleared and having them moved to the designated destinations and for faster resolution of issues will be at the terminals.
Mr. Obidiagu told them that his terminal though understands their intention to engender a more cordial working relationship with the terminal, but that they are constrained with space and may not be able at the moment to provide an office space for the Compliance and task force teams of the association. He though expressed his desire to work with the chapter execute to make their operations much easier.
At the end of the visit, the team spoke with some of the Licensed Customs Clearing Agents and they complained that they have problems of raising terminal charges as there are usual delays after mails have been sent to the terminal, they also complained about the matter of the delay in dropping of containers for examination and also that the agencies are extorting money from them.
The team in a group photograph with the MD of Fano bonded terminal, Mrs Orieh.
At the Classic one terminal, the team met with the managing director of the terminal Mr. Anthony Ngozi Onwuegbune and after tabling their reasons for the visit, the MD noted that as a former Customs officer and now a practitioner along the
logistics value chain that he understands the intrigues on both sides. A representative of the Customs’ officer-in-charge at the terminal, R O Akinsanya was also in attendance.
At the Fano bonded terminal, the team met with the managing director, Princess C A Orieh who received them as the team also articulated their reasons for the visit. Mrs. Orieh said that the terminal has always had a good relationship with the Association as their chairman is a patron of the association. The team also met with the Customs personnel at the terminal who promised to work with the representative of the association.
At the Zammark bonded terminal, the team had a closed door meeting with the Customs personnel at the terminal, but afterwards had a meeting with the representatives of the management of the terminal as they articulated their reasons for the visit. One important thing to note in all the visits during the tour is that at all the terminals, the terminal managers as well as the Customs personnel all indicated their willingness to cooperate with the chapter chairman’s team and also help in engendering good business relationship with the members of the association.
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