PH Mundial – Port Harcourt Online Newspaper News Across The Region
Related Articles
…Assures on Int’l Best Practice
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Area 2 command, Onne, has called on importers domiciled in the South South and South East of Nigeria to patronize ports and other trading facilities in the zone, with a view to promoting their businesses and developing the region.
Controller of the Area 2 command, Onne, Compt Bashir Abubakar, in a chat with a delegation of the Maritime and Energy Practitioners of Nigeria (MEMPON), led by their president, Amb (Dr) Ralph John, on Tuesday, decried a situation where importers from Aba and Onitsha bring in their goods through ports outside the region, even as far as Cotonou port.
Abubakar assured that with the implementation of the Federal Government policy on ease of doing business and the hundred percent cargo inspection policy adopted by the present comptroller general of the Customs, Col Hameed Ali (rtd), the operational environment has been made more conducive for more profitable operations for all stakeholders, especially at the Onne port.
“We’re encouraging credible importers (and exporters) to use the Eastern ports where we now have high level of transparency, due process and friendly staff. We frown at importers using others ports outside the region (South-South/ South East) which tend to increase their costs,” the Area 2 Customs comptroller said.
According to Compt Abubakar, “we have good facilities in the Eastern ports. These are: Onne, Rivers Port, Port Harcourt, Warri and Calabar. We’re now focusing on transparency, safety and facilitation. We’re also ensuring that all importers are treated well. We encourage the importers to get all their papers right. Once they do this, nobody would disturb them.”
The Custom Area 2 boss, who harped on transparency and objectivity in operations at his command, pointed out that bottle necks against business growth in area are almost gone, as the command operates in line with international best practices, adding that importers stand a better chance of doing business in the area.
Abubakar, who described the Eastern ports as his constituency, said he is committed to contributing to the development of the region, while decrying insecurity in the zone, which has made importers, especially foreigners to move to Lagos. He however added that they are doing their best to check the situation.
He said he is bent on making a difference as the Area 2 Customs boss. This has led to the renovation of Customs house at the command headquarters, staff development initiatives, among other measures.
President of MEMPON, Amb (Dr) Ralph John, who corroborated the comptroller’s stance on objectivity and transparency, said the group would do all within its reach to ensure that the area received the needed attention.
He however frowned at any form of mediocrity in maritime reporting, while lauding the host for what he described as work well done.
