.Says the Service is working on automation of licensing in Customs
ZAINAB JUNAID
As part of the commitment to enhance trade facilitation, and make renewal process seamless for all Customs agents, the Nigeria Customs Service(NCS) is currently working on the modalities to automate licensing process in Customs.
The National Public Relations Officer of the Service, Chief Superintendent of Customs, CSC Abdullahi Maiwada disclosed this while responding to issues related to extension of tenure for the renewal of license for Customs agents.
CSC Maiwada revealed that the Service is on the verge of introducing innovations that will change the way the renewal is done yearly.
“The agents are our critical partners and we believe our success lies in their ability to discharge their responsibilities, and for us to know why they are acting on behalf of importers when performing any transaction with the NCS. The automation process will make it most seamless for them to renew their licenses,” he said.
Save Nigeria Group had claimed that the yearly method of renewing licenses for Customs agents bring waste of time and resources, and over bureaucracy, even as some agents find it difficult to meet up with the payment due to shortage in cargo throughput and short of funds, hence their licenses are likely blocked by the agency, especially if requirements are not met.
Chief Chukwu Patrick Osita, National Coordinator, Save Nigeria Freight Forwarders Importers and Exporters Coalition(SNFFIEC), had called on Nigeria Customs Service to consider reviewing the renewal of licenses for Customs agents from the yearly method to every three years.
Chief Osita argued that this will curtail over bureaucracy and waste of time and resources.
To him, the renewal as done yearly is not favourable to agents because once an agent failed to meet up with payment, his license will be blocked.
“The agency should consider reviewing the yearly renewal because there are some of the agents who do not get a container to clear throughout the year because of shortfall in cargo throughput, economic downturn, and high exchange rate, how will they maneuver themselves to pay the due, besides over bureaucracy will be checked if Customs help review the renewal tenure to like every three years,” Osita said.
In response, the National Public Relations Officer posited that the yearly renewal of the license gives NCS the opportunity to check activities of the agents, and avoid irregularities.
He said reviewing the tenure to three years might impedes trade facilitation and revenue generation. He also clarified the regulations regarding the licensing of Customs agents as stipulated in the NCS act 2023.
According to him, “the Service Act 2023, section 106 subsection 2, gives the Service the power to make regulations regarding the licensing of Customs agents and If the Service deem it fit on existing regulations, will consider the review.
“The Service is very considerable and responsive to all situations, If there is need to review the tenure of the licenses, there are some conditions that must be adhered to and it’s important to note that yearly renewal of licenses pave way for the Service to look at the activities of license agents, avoid irregularities in terms of license clearance, and if we do not check an agent for a year, issues that may be impending to revenue collection and trade facilitations might surface. So licensing is stipulated for a year and if there’s need for review of the regulations, the Service will look into it but act in line with the law.
“Presently, we are working on automation of licensing in Customs, that automation process will make it most seamless to renew their license. The Service is currently working on innovations which will help change the way we renew the yearly license of Customs agents. They are critical partners and we believe our success lies in the agent’s ability to discharge their responsibilities, to know why they are acting on behalf of importer when performing any transaction with the NCS,” he stated.
