Customs Tasks ANLCA On Wooing Importers To PH

The Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) Area, Onne Command, Port Harcourt has urged the Association of Nigerian Licenced Customs Agents (ANLCA) to ensure that they persuade their clients and importers to use the Port Harcourt port for their importation business, saying the port must return to container operations.

Speaking while reacting to some issues bordering on returning the port to containerised cargo operations, as was envisaged, the customs public relations officer of the area command, Mr. D.A. Jack, said that the issue of returning the port to container operations which is the hall mark of cargo operations in the maritime business, lies with the importers and that clearing agents are closer to them in that regard.

According to the Customs spokesman, “it is the clearing agents that can mostly persuade their client importers to make use of the port, and this they can do by making them know that the port is safe and ideal for their business”.

He said that the business of persuading importers and returning the port to container operation should not be pushed to customs alone, pointing out that customs are men under authority, and is there to implement the vision of government.

Jack also explained that ANLCA members are directly the beneficiaries of the gains the container cargo operation will yield at the port, because they will receive the profits directly to their personal pockets, while whatever the customs makes from the port will go to the federal government.

The image maker of the command on recounting on the benefits of using Port Harcourt port, said that importers will have an easier transportation from Port Harcourt Wharf to Aba, than from Onne Wharf, among other benefits.

He, therefore, urged stakeholders at the port to actively play their individual roles towards returning Port Harcourt Port to its full general and container operations.

Corlins Walter