By Sallieu S. Kanu
Freetown, September 9, 2026: The National Revenue Authority (NRA) has engaged clearing and forwarding agencies as well as shipping companies in a bid to tackle operational bottlenecks and strengthen government revenue mobilization.
The meeting, held at 54 Liverpool Street, Freetown, addressed issues ranging from clearance delays and compliance to agent identification, payment verification, and customs efficiency.
Commissioner of Customs Services, Tennyson Bio, urged agencies to support efficient clearance processes and respond swiftly to NRA requests tied to revenue performance.
President of the Clearing and Forwarding Agencies, Mohamed D. Salia, announced new measures requiring all clearing agents to obtain official identification cards, citing concerns over counterfeit IDs.
NRA Commissioner General Abu Martin Kanneh said the engagement was designed to find practical solutions to industry challenges. He encouraged agencies to report concerns through proper channels, meet their tax obligations, and actively support national revenue mobilization.
The agencies welcomed the initiative and pledged greater cooperation. They called for: faster payment verification, Improved transit and scanning processes, reduced clearance delays, better ICT and FTN services, Industry training, clearer duty information for importers, and stronger collaboration with the NRA.