By Gbenga Oke

Director-General of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, has said that the agency and Nigerian Customs Service, NCS, are partners in progress.

He also said a synergy between both agencies will bring about desired growth and development in the Nigerian Maritime Industry and by extension the Nigerian economy.

Dakuku Peterside

The DG made this statement when he led NIMASA top management on a courtesy visit to the Comptroller General of the Nigerian Customs Service, NCS, Col. Hameed Ali (Retd.) at the Customs Headquarters in Abuja, saying both agencies are sticklers for transparency.

According to him; “The Nigerian Customs and NIMASA are both working to accomplish one purpose, which is to facilitate trade to our country, enhance the revenue of government and ensure that those who do business with us respect the laws of our land and ultimately they don’t take advantage of our people”.

According to him, NIMASA in the course of doing its work, had realized that it is inevitable to work with the Customs, which prompted the visit.

‘’The proposed areas of partnership we are looking forward to include; Nigerian Integrated Customs Information System, NICIS, the National Single Window Project and Maritime Security all geared towards enhancing productivity in the sector, transparency, plugging revenue leakages and ensuring maritime security among others,” he said.

Responding, Comptroller General of the Nigerian Customs Service, Col. Hammed Ali (Retd.) expressed optimism that the renewed partnership between both organs of Government will bring about the growth of the sector and the economy as a whole.