ABUJA: The Nigerian Custom Service (NCS), has promised the Republic of Niger easy transit of Cargoes to facilitate trade between Nigeria and Niger Republic.
The Deputy Comptroller-General (Finance, Administration and Technical Services), Mr Kohn Atte, disclosed this when a delegation of Nigerian Shippers Council and Nigeria-Niger Joint Commission paid him a courtesy visit in Abuja on Friday.
Atte said that main responsibility of customs was to facilitate trade and ensure that goods moved easily across border.
He said most challenges faced by Niger in terms of delay of movement of Cargo and issues at the various border posts would be resolved.
“The Customs has tried to see that we ease off the system so that goods can move faster, with the help of shippers Council, the system has been decentralized and capacity built.
“We have officers that are well trained to lead Cargoes to the next environment, we have also noted the two weeks delay or more at the borders.
In conjunction with shippers council, we will look into the matter and make sure that those complaints are eliminated”, he said.
According to him, Nigerian Customs has mandate to move Cargo quickly out of the ports within 48 hours.
He said the arrangement had given a good image for the service and promised that improvements would be made on the operations.
The Deputy Comptroller-General said NCS would collaborate with shippers council and the ministries of Transport of both countries as well as Niger Republic’s Customs to ensure smooth border operations.
