The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has assured stakeholders that a platform will be created to help resolve issues at the ports.

The acting comptroller-general of customs, Adewale Adeniyi, also pledged its willingness to work with stakeholders, terminal operators and port authority to improve economic development.

Mr Adeniyi said this in a statement on Thursday in Lagos.

He said that the role of customs agents and importers in the port administration was important to economic development, thus the need to create the platform for issues to be resolved.

“Customs agents, importers play a very important role in the administration of the port and this is why we believe that we must regularly, periodically create a platform for engagement on issues.

“This is going to be the feature of our relationship with not just the customs agents but all stakeholders, we believe in partnership and we believe that we can use innovation to drive the kind of change that we want to see,” he said.

During his visit at Lilypond export command, Mr Adeniyi, who was received by the customs area controller, comptroller Mohammed Babandede, commended the concept of establishing export processing terminals.

“It is not just a strategy to decongest the port, but there are many other benefits involved in it, boosting our local production and earn foreign exchange,” he said.

Mr Adeniyi, however, urged exporters and other agencies of government to partner with customs to ease the export process to ensure that they get value for the money invested in the business.

During a breakfast meeting with representatives of shipping companies and terminal operators, Mr Adeniyi emphasised the need for such arrangements to discuss issues of best interest.

“I believe in the power of consultation and collaboration with our stakeholders.

“Each time we need to discuss any issue, I will expect one or two members to flag it and we will be willing to set up this kind of meeting”, he said.

Responding, Kayode Farinto, a freight forwarder, who spoke on behalf of other stakeholders, said that there are many challenges but assured of their support to achieve success.

(NAN)