By Bon Peters
The New Customs Area Controller of Oil and Gas Free Trade Zone Command Onne Port Harcourt, Comptroller Aliyu Mohammed Alkali, has restated his resolve to facilitate trade and ensure compliance within the Zone.
The position was taken Thursday at Onne, Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital during a stakeholders engagement, in his effort to strengthen collaboration and enhance economic activities.
Addressing the stakeholders at the meeting, Comptroller Alkali has emphasized the need for compliance with trade regulations even as he urged freight forwarders, enterprises, and other stakeholders “to perfect their SGD(s) on pre-release approval within fourteen (14) days of transaction.”
Continuing, he stressed that adherence to the directive would enable the Command to maintain accurate records and ensure a seamless business environment.
He however, reiterated the Command’s goal of fostering a compliant and business-friendly atmosphere, promoting a stronger working relationship between stakeholders and the Nigeria Customs Service.
On his part, The General Manager Operations, OGFTZA, Mr. Adekunle Ajayi, who represented the Managing Director of OGFTZA, has welcomed Comptroller Alkali to the Zone and assured him of their full cooperation in achieving the set objectives.
The Customs Area Controller also took the opportunity to address questions and concerns raised by stakeholders, demonstrating a keen interest in resolving challenges that may hinder smooth operations within the Zone.
However, some participants used the opportunity to bring to the fore some of the challenges they are facing at the Command.
Leading the pack was the Zonal Coordinator Eastern, Zone of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents ANLCA, Mr Joshua Ahuama who decried the issue of network failure, delaying operations at the Command.
He also stated that his members encounter a lot of delays in clearing their consignments especially those transire cargoes shipped to Lagos but are supposed to be cleared in Port Harcourt.
Contributing, the newly elected ANLCA Chapter Chairman, Onne Oil and Gas Free Zone, Hon. Eric Aso Kalu, stated that the meeting was a good thing that would help his association to move forward in their business.
He added that they would restrategize immediately after the new EXCO of the Zone has been sworn – in, to work out an agreeable relationship model with Oil and Gas Free Zone and the Nigeria Customs Service, noting that all aimed to benefit the Customs, the Zone, their members and Nigeria in general.
He went further to posit that his association has high regards for Comptroller Alkali and his team and will ever be glad to work with him to achieve his set out goals of trade facilitation and revenue generation.
Contributing, chairman, Africa Association of Professional Freight Forwarders and Logistics of Nigeria APFFLON, Forwarder, Kolawole Atanda said Comptroller Alkali has shown he is knowledgeable in the operations of free Trade Zone based on the way he interacted with the stakeholders.
He added that Nigeria Customs Service should make it a point of duty to always send specialized officers who are well grounded in the operations of the free trade zone, insisting that Free Trade zones have come to stay in Nigeria.
He continued, “such officers should always engage stakeholders both locally and internationally to achieve the essence of the establishment of such zones.”
On his charge to his members Atanda, retorted “our members should be calm, the new Comptroller has promised to look into our challenges, he has promised to tackle them and I believe him. There will be light at the end of the Tunnel,” he assured.
With this proactive approach, Comptroller Alkali, who has promised an open-door policy aimed to bolster economic activities in the Oil and Gas Free Trade Zone, insisted that compliance and efficient service delivery across all operational facets would be his watchword.
The strategic meeting attracted critical stakeholders, government agencies and companies operating under Onne Oil and Gas Free Trade Zone such as , Oil and Gas Free Trade Zone Authority (OGFTZA), the Nigeria Port Authority (NPA), the Nigeria Police Force, Eastern Ports Command, and the Nigeria Immigration Service Oil and Gas Free Trade Zone Command.
Others include, INTELS, Notore Indorama Eleme Petrochemicals, Total Energies, Shipping companies, terminal operators- OMT and Blue Star Shipping Company, freight forwarders, PrimePort and Quicka, Associations of clearing agents such as the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) and the Africa Association of Professional Freight Forwarders and Logistics of Nigeria (APFFLON)
