The National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) on Monday said the Board of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) should curb corruption, ensure transparency, compliance and trade facilitation.

The President of NAGAFF, Mr Eugene Nweke, stated this in a statement made available to newsmen in Lagos.

Nweke explained that corruption was rampant in areas like Customs examination, value assessment and stoppage of released goods at the exit gates of the ports.

“One other area which we expect the new Customs Board to take a critical look at is licensing regulation.

“We have always maintained that a system whereby Customs licenses are issued to corporate entities instead of individuals goes with a lot of risk.

“It allows individuals who perpetrate fraud in the release of goods to escape punishment, hiding under the veil of corporate entity.”

The NAGAFF Chief commended the Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Retired Col. Hameed Ali for inaugurating a new management team.

He said that the team comprised six Deputy Comptroller-Generals and eight Assistant Comptroller-Generals.

According to Nweke, with the inauguration of the new management team, we are fully convinced that the task of fulfilling the mandate of the comptroller-general will go into full swing.

He also suggested that the ‘ongoing arbitrary and inappropriate seizures’ of goods should be stopped.

Nweke said that the 2006 Import and Export Guidelines specified additional duty as punishment under Sections 46, 47, 161 and 164 of the Customs & Excise Management Act (CEMA).

“It is to our knowledge that a 25 per cent duty penalty is usually imposed on such imports, which are viewed as minor trade offences.” (NAN)

•Photo shows NAGAFF President Eugene Nweke.