Kunle Kalejaye 01 March 2017, Sweetcrude, Lagos – The Nigerian Customs Service, NCS, and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, have sought ways to strengthen ties in order bring growth and development to the maritime industry and by extension the national economy.
This was the focus of a recent visit by the management team of NIMASA to the Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Customs Service, Col. Hameed Ali (rtd) at the Customs headquarters in Abuja.
The proposed partnership is in areas such as the Nigerian Integrated Customs Information System, NICIS; the National Single Window Project and Maritime security, all geared towards ensuring transparency, plugging revenue leakages, achieving maritime security and enhancing productivity in the sector.
Ali, while receiving the NIMASA team led by Director Genera, Mr. Dakuku Peterside, expressed optimism that a renewed partnership between the two parastatals of government would bring growth to the sector and the economy as a whole.
“Gone are the days that we feel we should do it alone. Today the dynamics have changed. Technology has given us a platform whereby we can achieve a lot, share information and also distribute responsibilities.
“I, therefore, feel NIMASA is one of the organisations we need to partner with. Your coming is to strengthen the already existing relationship,” the Customs boss said.
He also noted that “no single government agency can work alone”, adding: “We all need to work together for the good of this country”.
On his part, Peterside maintained that the Nigerian Customs and NIMASA were working to accomplish same purpose, which is to facilitate trade between Nigeria and other countries, enhance the revenue of government and ensure that those who do business respects the laws of the land.
He informed the Customs boss that NIMASA had started a process of restructuring and repositioning for the good of the sector, specifically to make it more business-friendly, thereby attracting more investors to the country.
