By Godwin Oritse & Blessing Oyakhire

THE Nigerian Export Promotion Council, NEPC, yesterday accused the Nigeria Customs Service of frustrating export business at the nation’s seaports.

Speaking at a stakeholders’ meeting organized by Apapa Area One Customs Command, in Lagos, Celen Ifeora, Director in charge of Enforcement and Compliance at the council, said exporters had been having issues with Customs with regards to exportation of goods through Apapa port.

Ifeora urged the service to facilitate not only import but also export trade, saying “Government is doing everything to encourage export to boost the economy.”

The Council’s Director also promised to assist the Customs in areas where assistance was needed, to ensure that export trade got priority treatment.

Responding to the accusation, the Customs Area Comptroller of Apapa area one Command, Mr Willy Egbudin said the Customs had always done its best to facilitate export trade.

Egbudin said because of the command’s attachment to export trade, a Deputy Comptroller was put in charge of the export seat in Apapa.

He assured the Council of the Service’s continued support to facilitate export trade in the port.