Area Controllers should understudy, emulate Compt Oloyede of TinCan Command on Customs operations – Says Dr Aniebonam

Dr Aniebonam

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Area Controllers should understudy, emulate Compt Oloyede of TinCan Command on Customs operations – Says Dr Aniebonam

Dr Aniebonam

The Founder, National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), Dr Boniface Aniebonam, has called on Customs Area Controllers of various Commands to understudy and emulate the TinCan Customs boss, Compt A.A.S Oloyede on matters of revenue generation, accounting and trade facilitation.

Dr Aniebonam, who is a reputable maritime stakeholder and freight forwarder also urged Area Controllers to understudy the operational strategies Compt Oloyede is using in handling conflicts resolution, achieving industrial harmony and anti-smuggling operations in accordance with the management and administration of Customs Laws.

Dr Aniebonam, who is currently the National Chairman of New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), made these assertions on the press statement released by NAGAFF.

His words : “Let it be on record that the unpopular trade policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) delisting over 41 trade goods from forex benefits did throw up matters of untrue declaration for Customs purposes into technical hitches.

“It is a trite trade regulation that all imports into Nigeria must be accompanied with a registered ‘form M’ in any of the authorised commercial banks. Unfortunately, CBN trade regulation did not consider the Customs laws in relation to goods shipped into Nigeria with incomplete documents, as contained under sections 127, 128 and 129 of Customs and Excise Management Act.

“The inherent powers of the Customs laws to address such matters as an Act of the National Assembly are not in doubt. This is because the Customs laws are superior to an Executive Order on trade goods”.

Dr Aniebonam emphasised : “What is playing out at the moment is that the CBN trade rules are in conflict with destination inspection trade policy of the Federal Government.

“This simply means that CBN trade rules have thrown up non- compliance attitude among traders on matters of making genuine declaration for Customs purposes.

“This simply means that delisting 41 items from forex benefits have placed such goods under prohibition list technically. Unfortunately, the Customs laws as a superior legislation does not agree with it as contained under section 27 and 28 of CEMA”.

According to him :  “These avoidable circumstances indeed are the problems Customs may be facing in the ports cargo clearance procedures. The arony of these uncoordinated trade rules and the deployment of pre’ arrival assessment report, which is advisory left the Customs in a difficult situation to manage foreign trade in Nigeria.”

He enthused : “The good news is that the tact with which the CAC of TinCan Island Port uses to ensure proper duty collection and facilitation of trade among others are not limited to suppression of smuggling and enhancing industrial harmony only. It goes beyond that. It is our hope that other Area Controllers would endeavour to understudy his ability and capacity to deploy the golden rule of the Service in carrying out his statutory duties. For emphasis, destination inspection simply means Customs examination.

“Therefore, going forward, it is straight forward and unambiguous to ensure proper Customs examination of laden containers and taking inventories for Customs purposes. The relevance or otherwise of the intervention forces of the Service shall fizzle out naturally from the city roads and federal highways, if only the operators and the Customs examiners are patriotic enough to do the right thing.

“The right thing is to make honest declaration for Customs purposes. The Customs examiners must also ensure proper examination and duty accounting.

“Compt kunle Oloyede keep it up ! Other stakeholders are hereby called to duty. Let’s make Nigeria great once again while encouraging CBN to consult the Customs for inputs on trade rules formulation. Trade is the hub of any nation’s economic growth and development. Therefore, the need to ensure standard operating condition can not be overemphasised. Let’s join hands to make Nigeria great once again.

“Vote for New NIGERIA PEOPLES PARTY in 2023 General elections and together we shall reform Customs ports together with senator KWANKWASO as the president of Nigeria. What we need at the moment is to grant Customs partial autonomy as the leading government agency in the ports, in order to enhance international trade development in Nigeria, than the present position under finance ministry”.

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