Comptroller-General of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Hameed Ali has appealed to clearing agents to have the fear of God, saying those falsifying documents to defraud the system should discontinue the act.

He made the appeal on Wednesday at the Onne Oil and Gas Free Zone, Onne, Eleme Local Government area of Rivers State during a joint stakeholders forum on improved service delivery organised by the Oil and Gas Free zones Authority (OGFZA) and Nigeria Customs Service.

Ali said it was unfortunate that some clearing agents had devised means to shortchange the system, accusing them of falsify documents and under-declaration of cargo.

He warned that the Customs would not compromise if anyone is caught defrauding the system.

He said honest declaration of goods would speed up clearing process at the port.

He said the Nigeria Customs would continue to collaborate with the organised private sector, adding that stakeholders should feel free to offer suggestions towards improved services.

“We assure you that your contributions will form valuable inputs to our periodic reviews aimed at turning policies for better results,” he said.

Earlier in his opening address, Managing Director of OGFZA, Okon Umana said the free zone had been repositioned for higher efficiency and productivity, adding that it had improved the nation’s export trade.

“The activities of oil and gas free zones have greatly impacted Nigeria’s export trade. Outward cargo throughput by trade from the nation’s ports accounted for a huge percentage of exports in 2016, excluding crude oil exports,” he said.

Umana recalled that in 2015, ship traffic in and out of OGFZ ports in Onne and Warri accounted for 23.66 percent of gross total ship tonnage for the entire country.

“These statistics underline the tremendous positive contribution to Nigeria’s trade balance with attendant huge revenue for the federal government,” he said.

He further said he was hopeful that when the nation finally moves out of recession, there will be more investors , increased revenue and greater job creation at the free trade zones.




**** In line with this directive and for the fact that we all know that Hammed Alli and his boys are looking around for importers,clearing agents and even custom officers that will be used as scape goats, especially when thirty-seven exotic vehicles were caught in Ogun state and several other vehicles where impounded around Ikeja axis. Jelad ventures dissociatess itself from any illegal or fraudulent declarations.

We will be operating within the dictates of the law. Any job involving under-declaration will not be taken by JELAD ventures.

For info about custom duty processing, call Gbenga on 08062948193.

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Watching how potor Ps will start grunting & cursing.

Their penchant for fraud is second to none.