Customs Area Controller, CAC, Murtala Mohammed Airport Command, Comptroller Jayne Shoboiki  has called on stakeholders within the airport to feel free to come to her office on any issues affecting them.

The CAC made the call following calls for her removal by members of National Association of Government Approve Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) led by its Vice President in charge of Air Logistics, Western Zone, Dr. Segun Musa.

The agents are protesting  the insistent by the MMA Command on the position of form ‘M’ which is a mandatory document for importation is wrong and does not meet the clearance process as smooth and rewarding as it used to be to them in the past.

The agents  also claim that the CAC prefers to deal with members of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) than that of NAGAFF, and also that they were not briefed before the introduction of Nigeria Integrated Customs Information System II (NICIS II) in the command.

In a statement signed by Command’s spokesman, Mr. Ephraim Haruna, the Command said “For the avoidance of doubt, Form ‘M’ as a prerequisite for importation into Nigeria is not a policy of the Command but a guideline of Federal Government of Nigeria. The guidelines say, any person intending to import physical goods into Nigeria shall in the first instance process the e-Form ‘M’ through any Authorized Dealer Bank irrespective of the value and whether or not payment is involved. Moreover, the recently implemented NICIS II makes provision of Pre-Arrival Assessment Report (PAAR) a must, and PAAR cannot be gotten without Form ‘M’.

“On the issue of whether they were sensitized before the launching of NICIS II at the Command, it is on record that Customs Officers, Clearing Agents and other Stakeholders including members of NAGAFF were part of the two (2) weeks training at the Zonal Headquarters Yaba and Apapa Area Command respectively”.

“To therefore say they were not sensitized will be simply a denial of facts as recorded. The CAC wants to inform stakeholders that she attends to all Customs brokers equally without the fear of favour whether NAGAFF or ANLCA and will not be dragged into politics of superiority among different Agencies”.

The Command reiterates that it will always be focused on suppression of smuggling, collection of appropriate Customs duties while still facilitating trade.

Open Door Policy

Mr. Haruna stressed that the CAC is willing to meet with any individual or group that will add value to the function of Nigeria Customs Service at the Airport. Accordingly, the command wishes to inform all stakeholders to discountenance any narrative that tends to misrepresent the patriotic stand of the CAC.

The command appeal to all stakeholders to study properly the requirements of importation under the new dispensation, comply and compliment the ongoing efforts of the Service to enhance the Economy and National Security.