Customs Area Controller, Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos

The Customs Area Controller, CAC, of the Murtala Mohammed International Airport Command of the Nigeria Customs Service, Comptroller Emmanuel Edede has called all stakeholders at the International Airport to cooperate with officers and men of the Nigeria Customs Service working at the Airport in order to achieve the fiscal/economic policies of the Federal Government.

Speaking during courtesy visits to heads of Federal Government agencies at the international Airport, the CAC said his visit is meant to seek their cooperation and understanding so that Customs could effectively carry out its duties at the Airport while also giving their support to other Agencies to achieve theirs.

Comptroller Edede said no agency of government can achieve anything by working alone. He therefore appealed to all Agencies to support the MM Command especially in the area of Revenue collection and suppression of smuggling at the international Airport.

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Specifically, the Controller noted that all Federal Governments Agencies have their mandates to implement. To achieve this, all Agencies of government need to collaborate by sharing timely intelligence that could assist all agencies in carrying out their duties.

In his words “In Adamawa where I am coming from, the military and para-military agencies had a good inter agency relationship. Intelligence was promptly shared-especially as regards smuggling and Boko Boko Haram. This to a large extent helped to improve revenue and reduced smuggling significantly.

The Nigerian Immigration Services, NIS, Security Agencies and Air Force were the Agencies the CAC visited. Others are the Police, NDLEA and NAFDAC.

All the Agencies pledged their support and cooperation to Customs.

Head of the Nigeria Immigration Service, NIS, Comptroller Usman…..said Immigration and Customs have a long history of mutual cooperation which he and his men will sustain and improve on. He assured the CAC that officers of the NIS will accord Customs all necessary support in the discharge of their duties.

Airport Commandant of the Nigeria Air Force, Directors of the DSS and SSS and Manager of the Airport all pledged to accord Customs the necessary support in their duties.

Also, The CAC has met with the Executives of the Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents, ANLCA and National Associations of Government Approved Freight Forwarders, NAGAFF and their members, in an interactive session.

The Customs Agents also pledged to work with the Controller in order to ensure trade facilitation at the MM Command.

The CAC assured them of his open door policy and told them to feel free to see him any time they have issues/complaints. Controller Edede insisted however that they must obey the rules and regulations, do honest declarations and avoid cutting corners if they want to enjoy Customs support that comes with proven integrity.

Members of the United States Consulate in Lagos, had also visited Customs Area Controller to congratulate him on his new assignment and extend hands of friendship while also soliciting the CAC’s support in the clearance of their Diplomatic Cargoes from the Airport on time.

Comptroller Edede assures all stakeholders that as long as they meet all requirements by making honest declarations and paying appropriate duty on their cargoes, there shall be no delays in cargo clearance at the Airport.

“We have a clear mandate on revenue which we shall not compromise. As long as the right thing is done, I can assure you that no officer will delay your cargo.