The Nigerian Customs Area Controller, Apapa Area Command, Malanta Yusuf, has
issue a warning to licensed customs agent to refrain from the practice of moving
cargo from one bonded terminal to the other without due authorization.
Yusuf issued the warning in Lagos on Tuesday during a meeting with
representatives of customs agents and freight forwarders associations.
“When you divert cargoes from one terminal to another, you are inviting trouble
to yourself. The two agencies caught in Tin Can Island Port were blocked from
operating in the port because of an offence related to this. This is why your
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associations should see it as a responsibility to conduct members to follow the
professional practice in the course of doing their business.
“You have associations but you don’t control the members. Try and conduct
yourself. Aside from customs punishment that awaits agents that breach the law,
what is your association doing to correct or sanction such? You have 100%
Compliance Team but your members are not complaint. Mentor your people very
well,” he said.
“If you want to move cargo again from one bonded terminal to another, you have
to do another document entirely suggesting that you are transferring it.”
He asked importers and agents to report corrupt customs officers who indulge in
acts of extortion in the course of discharging their duties.
“I have said it many times that if you catch any customs officer extorting you,
report him or her to me. I will deal with such an officer. I hate extortion with all
sense of passion. Even when I was a junior officer, no agent can say I extorted
him. Help us to sanitise this port by reporting extortionists who are customs
officers. I have zero tolerance for such social ill,” he added.
