IMO NEEDS CUSTOMS TRAINING INSTITUTE, SAYS OKOROCHA

The need for establishment of a custom training institute in Imo state has been stressed.

Imo state Governor Owelle Anayo Okorocha made a case for it during a meeting with the comptroller General of custom who visited him recently at the government house owerri.

Okorocha said the call has become very important considering the fact that Imo State and Igbo traders constitute major percentage in the importation and exportation of goods in Nigeria

The governor also called for a building of a stronger relationship between Igbo traders and the Nigerian customs service and condemned the misinterpretation of steps taken by Igbo traders in their day to day business activities.

He used the opportunity to stress the need to encourage local production than to depend on oil which is drastically going down and also called on the Comptroller General to check and consider the facilities of Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport for improvement and elevation to a real status of an international cargo airport.

Imo State Governor noted that the Igbos` are the number one traders in the country and stressed the need for them to be properly represented and carried along in the scheme of things. Said he; “we have produced enough graduates but we don’t have our people well represented in the Nigeria’s Custom Service.”

Responding, the Comptroller General of the Nigerian Customs Service, Cornell Alihu RTD said men of the agency are working in the area of revenue generation and maintained that the bulk of the importers are from South -East.

He also concurred with the governor that Igbos are the major traders in the country and such has contributed immensely in revenue generation for Nigeria Custom Service.

He said the Nigeria Custom Service which is the biggest revenue outfit after oil is developing a mechanism to sensitize the public about laws on import and export matters.

Cornell Alihu RTD gave Kudos to the governor on his resilience and positive actions in turning Imo State into a model state