Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents, ANLCA, has alerted the the federal government of the danger in the planned $3.1 billion Customs modernisation project said to be under consideration by the Federal Government. It has urged the National Assembly to take a second look at the details of the said Customs modernisation project. ANLCA’s position which was made known in Lagos, said that the project is expected to run for 20 years. The modernisation project which is a Public, Private Partnership, PPP, concession expected to last for 20-years, was awarded to Messers E. Customs HC Project Limited as a concessionaire.
The Federal Executive Council, FEC had five months ago ratified the $3.1 billion anticipatory approval by President Muhammadu Buhari for the modernisation of the Nigerian Customs Service, NCS. National President of ANLCA, Tony Iju Nwabunike, while briefing the press at the end of its National Executive Council, NEC meeting, said that with the debt profile of the country and the role of Customs in none oil revenue collection, it will be wrong to tied the Service down to such a long period project. According to him, “We want to also advise the federal government to be careful before signing the $3.1 billion Customs modernisation project which, we heard will run for 20 years. We urge President Muhammadu Buhari and the Finance Ministry to avoid assenting to the deal.
“Nigeria is already in serious debt and Customs being a strategic non oil revenue earner for government should not be tied to another long term repayment for two decades. On this, we call on the National Assembly to take very close look at the details and ensure the Federal Ministry of Finance, Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, and all parties involved observe due diligence that would not entrap the country into another long debt repayment for 20 years and maybe for lesser value,” he noted.
