Mr. Stanley Ezenga (PRO NAGAFF)
Naturally, if there is an abuse in the process, then government should scrap it. The fast track was meant for people who have proven some level of integrity and if overtime people are abusing the process, then I strongly advise the customs to scrap it and every consignment should be subjected to 100% physical examination, because it appears that the abuse is getting out of hand and the earlier it is nipped in the bud the better for us all for security reasons, because if some of these items beat customs checks, then there will be problems somewhere in the country.
Joseph Nnamocha (ANLCA)
Fast track is a policy that was introduced by customs to enhance port efficiency and delivery of cargoes without hitches and it is a very good development and I don't support or call for the scrapping of the system. Fast track has a very good intention in line with trade facilitation therefore what should be done is for customs to beam its searchlight on area where importers appear to be fraudulent. Fast track should be not be scrapped, rather the security agencies should rise to the occasion in ensuring that people who want to short change the government must be dealt with and of course crime is not peculiar to Nigeria alone; it is everywhere but I will suggest to the government that there is need to examine what comes in from port of loading mostly for those who enjoy the fast track process to further scrutinise the content inside the consignment. The introduction of fast track has helped in so many ways thus there no point scrapping it.
Eniola Odulaja (Stakeholder)
Fast track process is commendable, but since some of the importers are abusing the process then government should stop it. I recall the CG of Customs has ordered the thing to be on hold but it appears the controllers at the commands are still bent on allowing some of the multinationals to benefit from the process. I strongly recommend that the process should be stop for security reasons.
Dr. Arthur Igwilo (Secretary General, NAGAFF)
I will not support the government to scrap the fast track system, but there is need for customs and other security agencies to step up their operations. We need to encourage the customs in this aspect because it has to do with national security. Yes there has been series of abuse on the fast track system in recent times, but we just have to encourage the customs in this process and issue of intelligence must be looked into by ensuring that the freight forwarders assist the customs with information about intelligence gathering to help customs perform better. But I stronger disagree for the government to scrap the process.
Pius Ujubonu (ANLCA Headquarters)
Actually, it is not the case of abuse by fast track beneficiaries; it is a case of customs not expressing real intelligence as it should be. Ordinarily, Nigeria Customs is a signatory to World Customs Organisation, so there should be intelligence sharing, bearing in mind that what we do here is destination inspection, you don't have to intervene at the port to determine whether there is an infraction or not, Post Clearance Audit unit of customs are supposed to be at the point of destination of the fast track cargoes. The fact that they are on fast track does not mean they should be taken without inspection; they would be opened at the owner’s warehouse. It is being unnecessarily sensationalised; the spirit behind fast track is that post audit would catch them anywhere they might go. Fast track should not be cancelled, it should be sustained, the only issue is that they have to profile each person, and any company known for abuse should be properly sanctioned and such privileges denied.
Opara Ogu (Secretary General, ANLCA Headquarters)
Fast track system has its advantages and disadvantages, the customs benefit from it, the importers benefit, but the federal government does not benefit from it. It is through this fast tracking that customs officers make their money because they collude with unscrupulous importers that don't want anything good for this country, they evade even custom duties with this fast tracking, they do false declaration as a result of the fast track, and you know it takes two to tangle. There is no how any officer of customs would tell me that an importer would carry tires and declare pepper that he would not know, they must have been doing it, before an importer does anything, there must have been agreement between the importer, the agent and the customs who will look the other way because he is already aware of it. There are genuine importers that adhere to the rules, and there are those that would always act contrary; the customs know them, they are benefitting and the agent also benefit. I will not call for any review because you cannot say because some people have erred, you must kill those that have not erred, what I would advocate for is that, let there be a reform among the customs and the importers.
Ada Akpunonu (ANLCA, Tin Can Port)
Fast track has advantages that genuine beneficiaries of the scheme has got, we know what the demurrage is right now, Nigeria today stands as the most expensive port because of activities of terminal operators and shipping companies. Fast track beneficiaries import containers in large quantity, so you cannot expect such cargoes to tarry at the port, there would be port congestion. But out of every 12, there would always be a Judas, but this does not make the scheme bad, it's just that the customs have to be more vigilant.
Dayo Azeez (BOT Member, ANLCA)
Fast track cannot be stopped because it facilitates trade and it allows quick delivery of cargoes from the port and eliminates demurrage, it is to the advantage of the Nigerian economy that fast track should be continued by the customs. There is a lot of benefit in it for the importer and the clearing agent as well; the goods do not waste any time at the port, once you pay your duty within 48 hours you will take your delivery. So, fast track should be maintained, but anyone found wanting should be sanctioned. We would not support any leakages in government revenue now that the economy is down; we want to support the improvement of government revenue through the maritime sector.
Dr. Boniface Aniebonam (Founder, NAGAFF)
Fast track has its own modus operandi; it is a tool for trade facilitation, most importantly for large importers. What we are witnessing now is just the abuse of the scheme which is purely a human element problem, the onus is on the CG of customs to review the process and procedures of fast track delivery, the port is a transit area, it is not a place where goods would come and stay. The country is fighting against corruption, so there should be sanctions, depending on how often a company commits the offense, it is the prerogative of the Customs CG, under section 46 and 47 of CEMA, concealment and false declaration is 5years imprisonment without option of fine. But the import guideline of 2006 and 2013 as amended provides for additional Debit Note to be given by way of facilitating trade.
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