To operate a successful maritime sector, the Controller, Tin Can Island Port Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Comptroller Zakari Jubril, has called for the sustenance of the collaboration between the service and clearing agents.
He said the existence of close ties had eliminated internal rancour that hitherto existed in the command.
Speaking while commissioning the Secretariat of Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Tin Can Island Port Chapter, Thursday, Jubril said for the past 18 months when he was appointed Controller, members of ANLCA have been very supportive especially in revenue generation drive.
His words: “I am 18 months old in Tin Can and for these 18 months, there has never been any problem and this is because of the collaboration that exists, unlike before, when there was no collaboration and cordial relationship at all but in-fighting. Whenever there is any misunderstanding, we sit down and resolve the matter. They generate the revenue and we collect the revenue, so why should we continue fighting?”
Earlier in his address, the Chairman of ANLCA, Tin Can chapter, Prince Kayode Oyinlola, said members of the chapter were not without operational challenges, part of which, he said, were “incessant alerts from customs.”
He said the association would have swung into action to rescue its members from “unwanted hardship” but had chosen to embrace dialogue and resolve issues rather than resort to violence.
On the new secretariat, Oyinlola said the achievement was a landmark in the history of the chapter.
He said the executive took up the challenge to provide a rallying point for all members in the chapter and to serve as a springboard towards acquiring a permanent structure.
“This event, which stood as our first priority, is coming now because a lot of challenges we faced pre and post our election slowed down the secretariat project. Thank God, it is better late than never,” he said.
Source : SunOnline