The Africa Association of Professional Freight Forwarders and Logistics of Nigeria (APFFLON) has opposed the presidential initiative to concession the Nigerian Customs Service revenue collection to some private firms.
Its National President, Mr Frank Ogunojemite, made this known at a news conference on Tuesday in Lagos
On Oct. 10, Rep. Jerry Alagbaoso, the Chairman, House Committee on Public Petition, had, during Plenary, raised motion on concession arrangement of e-customs project to some private firms without recourse to the National Assembly.
Ogunojemite said the project tagged: “e-Customs Project’’ was being treated with utmost secrecy.
“It was planned to be perfected by the end of October and implemented in November to the utmost shock of the players in the industry.
“Upon investigation, we discovered that the move has not been approved by the National Assembly and is not in the national interest, but to fulfil the interest of some powerful elements in the country.
“These people are misinforming President Muhammadu Buhari in order to turn our beloved country to their private business empire.
“It will interest you to know that four companies have been contracted and agreements on how to operate, share our national assets is near completion,” he said.
Ogunojemite said Nigerians could not afford to keep saying “Grow Nigeria’’ and hypothetically continue to concede its national assets to private and foreign firms, thereby encouraging capital flight to foreign lands.
He noted that since the appointment of Retired Col. Hammed Ali as the Comptroller-General of Customs, the customs service had been doing tremendously well in revenue generation and prevention of smuggling.
Ogunojemite said: “The Nigeria Customs Service has over time surpassed its counterpart in the West Africa region, operating in line with the international standards thereby making it an enviable national asset.
“The recent testimony of the CGC sequel to the improvement in revenue generation has further made it clear that we do not need any foreign or private firm to help customs do what they know how to do best.”
He said that APFFLON was crying to other stakeholders in the aviation, maritime sectors and general public on the conspiracy to take over the operations of customs under the guise of digitalisation and modernisation.
Ogunojemite called on the National Assembly to act swiftly and effectively to stop the alleged concession plan.
He also called on other stakeholders in the industry and the general public to rise up against this policy and safe the Nigeria Customs Service and the future of yet unborn generation.
