ANALCA BERATES CUSTOMS OVER SON
Uploaded by Michael George on February 6, 2020
The Association of Nigerian Licenced Customs Agents, ANALCA, has accused the Customs Service of working against government’s policy of Ease of doing Business.
The Vice President of ANALCA, Mr. Kayode Farinton made the allegation at a News conference in Lagos.
Mr. Farinton said that Customs was only interested in generating revenue and not facilitating trade.
He said that the Customs as lead agency in the ports was supposed to provide solutions where there is system failure in any agency operating in the ports.
The ANALCA boss cited the current challenge in Standard Organisation of Nigeria, SON, as an example.
He said that frieght forwarders in the last one week had incurred over six billion Naira in demurrage because of system failure in SON.
Farinton alleged that since November last year, SON has been trying to synchronise it’s system with Customs without success making it difficult for Customs to issue Pre Arrival Assessment Report there by making importers to incurr demurrage.
According to him, Customs as the lead agency would have directed SON to resort to manual examination pending when it’s system is upgraded.
Farinton said that if by close of work on Wednesday the issues are not resolved freight forwarders will head to the court.
He appealed to President Muhammadu Bihari to appoint a Senior Special Assistant on Maritime who will interface with stakeholders and give the presidency first hand information of happenings in the Maritime sector.
By Fabian Anawo
