By Bon Peters, Port Harcourt, Rivers State
PORT HARCOURT/Nigeria: The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has vowed to intensify its engagement with stakeholders to address issues related to faulty documentation, under-declaration, and incorrect classification of goods.
Comptroller Chedi Wada of Port Harcourt Area 1 Customs Command made this declaration during the second phase of a stakeholders’ sensitization and workshop held in Port Harcourt, the capital of Rivers state.
In his address to licensed customs agents and other critical maritime operators, Comptroller Wada encouraged consignees to participate in routine training sessions to better understand customs procedures and prevent breaches. He emphasized the importance of collaboration between government agencies operating at the Port Harcourt ports, including the Nigerian Ports Authority, police, immigration, and NDLEA, to ensure smooth port operations.
Comptroller Wada stressed that ignorance would not be tolerated as an excuse for faulty documentation or under-declaration, highlighting the positive impact of the first phase of sensitization conducted earlier in the year on reducing documentation errors.
“We cannot operate efficiently without organizing a forum like this, which allows us to discuss clearing and forwarding issues,” said Wada. “During such interactions, we can identify issues requiring clarification, and consignees have the opportunity to voice their daily concerns, to which we offer solutions.”
Wada also underscored the importance of agents equipping themselves with a comprehensive understanding of clearing procedures to overcome documentation challenges.
The lecture, titled “Enhancing Trade Integrity: A Comprehensive Understanding of Customs Declaration to Counter Abuse,” was presented by Mr. Babani Gambo, a Customs Chief Superintendent at the command. Gambo aimed to sensitize service personnel and the trading community about the correct use of customs procedures and highlighted commonly abused declaration factors, such as Customs procedure codes, false declarations, and undervaluation, which contribute to revenue losses.
Clearing agents expressed their appreciation for the customs’ knowledge transfer efforts and called for increased cooperation to facilitate business operations and profitability. They also raised concerns about the poor condition of the East-West road and Aba/Port Harcourt road, urging the federal government to expedite repairs to support business growth at the Eastern ports.
