The Port Harcourt Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (PHCCIMA) has reaffirmed its commitment to partner the Nigeria Customs Service, Area 2 Rivers State Command to strengthen the frontier of diligent business activities and eliminate invasion of certain regulations within the ports in the state.
President, PHCCIMA, Sir Mike Elechi, who stated this when he led a delegation of the Chamber Executive on a courtesy visit to the Customs Area Comptroller, Area Two Command, Onne Port, Rivers State, Comptroller Auwal Mohammed, said the chamber was also poised to work concertedly with the command to add value in its operation.
While describing Nigeria Customs Service as a gate keeper of the country, Elechi expressed dismay, altitude of some importers and exporters who obtain Certificate of Origin from any Chamber of Commerce outside Port Harcourt instead of the one issued by the City of Origin, and urged the command to collaborate with PHCCIMA to check the trend in the state.
The PHCCIMA president also told Mohammed that not all individuals that criss-cross Onne Port are bona fide members of the chamber, pointing out that they would work with the command to identify genuine members, as according to him, members of the chamber indulge in a legitimate and diligent businesses and never cut corners.
Elechi was well impressed with the visit, which he described as the best courtesy visit ever since his assumption of office, and thanked the comptroller and his deputies for their warm reception and high level operational capacity presentations.
Responding, the Customs Area Comptroller, Area 2 Command, Onne Port, Comptroller Auwal Mohammed welcomed the president and the delegation to his command, asserting that his command would synergise and partner PHCCIMA to entrench legitimate import and export business activities in the state and the country, describing the visit as first in the annals of the command.
Mohammed while declaring open an interactive session during the visit, emphasised that the current Onne Port under his leadership runs an open door policy in line with its statutory functions to facilitate trade operations, remove bottlenecks that hinder the Federal Government policy on ease of doing business as well as encourage patronage of Onne Port with a view to facilitating legitimate trade within the port by constantly holding stakeholders’ enlightenment forum, and commended PHCCIMA Executive for the visit.
The area comptroller and his deputies during the interactive session, spoke extensively on their concerted efforts to make import and export operations easier for operators at the port, and advised the port operators to make good use of the Customs Fast Track Scheme to facilitate their activities and the Peace and Conflict Resolution Committee of the command to resolve their challenges.
He assured Elechi and his delegation of his command’s commitment in quick resolution of operational matters, and promised to harmonise the issue of Certificates of Origin in the command.
Mohammed presented plaque of Award of Excellence to Elechi for his outstanding performance in the development of the chamber.
The chamber president also reciprocated by presenting a souvenir to the customs area comptroller.
Other distinguished members of the president’s entourage on the visit include the 2nd Deputy President, Prince Charles Beke; Publicity Secretary, Pastor Uche Onochie; elected council member, Chief Emeka Ezekwe; the President General, National Shippers Association of Nigeria and Chairman of Professional Services and Consultancy Trade Group of the Chamber, Engr. Innocent Akuvue; member of Financial Services Trade Group and Principal Partner of Madu, Onyekwena & Co. Chartered Accountants, Sir Sampson Madu; Nigeria Shippers Council Officer, Mrs. Patricia Osuma; and the Director General, Mr. Erasmus Chukunda.