The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) said it has generated N272 million for the federal government from the auctioning of 646 vehicles since its E-Auction platform began six months ago.
Spokesman of the service, Joseph Attah, disclosed this recently in Lagos when he briefed journalists on the activities of the service in 2017.
Mr Attah, Customs registered 5,454 persons since the platform commenced while 4,865 persons participated out of which 646 emerged winners.
He said: "The introduction of the e-auction process was based on the need to eliminate abuses associated with manual process of the past.
"This is to ensure maximum revenue from the process while still providing equal opportunity to all interested Nigerians to log on to the e-auction portal and bid for any items they wish’’.
Speaking further, he added that: ”The portal is opened to all interested persons to bid between 12noon Monday and 12noon Wednesday of every week. So far,646 number of vehicles have been won with N272,115,366 generated as revenue for the Federal Government”.
The Comptroller General of Customs (CGC), Col. Hameed Ali (Rtd) launched the electronic auction platform https: app.trade.gov.ng/e-auction on July 3, 2017.
Attah noted that the Service would continue to be careful in handling of goods at its warehouses so as not to be dragged into unnecessary litigations by claimants as a result of illegal disposal.
Shipping Position Daily recalls that, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) had issued a circular on the e-auction by the Customs. The circular was signed by CBN Director, Trade and Exchange Department, W.D. Gotring.
In the circular, the apex bank had explained that the objective of the platform would be to improve efficiency, transparency and revenue generation to government on seized and overtime/abandoned cargoes.
“This is to inform all authorised dealers and the general public that the NCS has deployed an electronic auction platform tagged “NCS e-auction.” The objective of the platform is to improve efficiency, transparency and revenue generation to government on seized and overtime/abandoned cargoes.
“In view of this development, all authourised dealers are required to integrate with the NCS e-Auction platform for the recharging of e-Wallet and subsequent payment of the required fees for winning bids. Please ensure compliance accordingly,” it added.
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