Following the introduction of a trade policy that payment of duty must be effected before transfer of tranzire cargoes to bonded terminals, bonded terminal operators under the Tin Can Island Port have called on the management of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) to give them grace of three months before implementation of the new policy.
The operators under the aegis of Association of Bonded Terminal Operators in Nigeria (ABTON) made the call yesterday after a closed door meeting with the management of the Tin Can command of the Nigeria Customs Service.
The operators said that they needed the three months duration to communicate with their clients over the new development saying it is in line with the requirements of the World Trade Organization (WTO).
The service according to the operators had earlier released a circular prior to the meeting informing them about the introduction of payment of duty before transfer of cargoes to bonded terminals.
According to them, there was no prior information that payment of duties should be effected at the ‘mother port’ before transfer.
They maintained that such move amounted to illegality if customs should at the middle of the relationship demand the payment of duty before transfer.
They also claimed that “this policy was revived as a result of the alleged extortion during transire process. This is in line with the requirements by World Trade Organization (WTO)”.
"As at the time of our approval to operate a bonded terminal, we were not informed that we should pay duty at the mother port before transfer.
So, it amounts to illegality if customs should at the middle of the relationship demand the payment of duty before transfer”, they also argued.
Speaking with newsmen shortly after the meeting, Haruna Omolajomo, Executive Secretary of ABTON kicked against the new policy, calling for a grace period to allow members to adapt to the new order.
He said, "How can Customs come up with such policy and say it's implementation is with immediate effect.
Meanwhile, in a chat with Shipping Position Daily, Public Relations Officers of the command said that the Controller has promised to write to the Customs headquarters and make a case for the bonded terminal operators. According to him, there are certain items that have now been restricted from being transferred to bonded terminals on call by the importer.
Even though he did not list the items, he however said that cargoes excluded from the list are vehicles, household items and others.
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