The National Revenue Authority (NRA) has engaged Clearing and Forwarding Agencies and Shipping Agencies to address challenges affecting customs operations and strengthen national revenue mobilisation.
The engagement, held on September 9, 2026, at the NRA headquarters at 54 Liverpool Street, Freetown, provided an opportunity for the Authority and industry stakeholders to discuss operational challenges, including clearance delays, compliance, identification of clearing agents and payment verification.
Commissioner of the Customs Services Department, Tennyson Bio, urged the agencies to support efficient customs clearance processes and respond promptly to NRA requests relating to revenue performance.
President of the Clearing and Forwarding Agencies, Mohamed D. Salia, announced measures to ensure that all clearing agencies obtain official identification cards. He cited concerns over the use of counterfeit identification cards within the sector.
Commissioner General of the NRA, Abu Martin Kanneh, said the engagement was convened to identify practical solutions to challenges affecting the agencies and improve collaboration between the Authority and stakeholders in the customs sector.
Kanneh encouraged the agencies to channel NRA-related concerns through the appropriate mechanisms, fulfil their tax obligations and support the Government’s efforts to mobilise domestic revenue.
The participating agencies welcomed the engagement and pledged to strengthen cooperation with the NRA. They also called for faster payment verification, improved transit and scanning processes, reduced clearance delays, better Information and Communications Technology (ICT) and Fast Track Network (FTN) services, and increased industry training.
The agencies further requested clearer duty information for importers and stronger collaboration with the NRA to improve efficiency and transparency in customs operations.
The engagement forms part of ongoing efforts by the NRA to address operational bottlenecks, improve compliance and strengthen revenue mobilisation while facilitating more efficient customs processes.
