Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC),Mr Hassan Bello has raised alarm that about 80 per cent of revenue which is accruable to the Federal Government through Customs duty go into private pockets.
Bello whose Council also doubles as the Port Economic Regulator told some maritime journalists yesterday at the Council head office in Lagos that most goods imported into the country are cleared with under-payment of duty and other sundry revenue that is accruable to the government.
The journalists included: Acting President of Maritime Reporters Association of Nigeria, Mr Funso, President League of Maritime Editors; Mr Ovie Edomi and President Maritime Correspondent Organisation of Nigeria; Mr Ismail Aniemu.
They were led to the meeting by the Publisher of Shipping Position Daily; Mr Sesan Onileimo, whose organisation facilitated the maiden edition of Annual Seminar for Maritime Journalists, which held in Lagos in December 29, 2015.
The Executive Secretary who applauded maritime media practitioners, also commended the annual seminar for maritime journalists. He added that the event offers opportunity for capacity building among media practitioners in the maritime industry, even as he described maritime journalistss as critical stakeholders.
On the revenue leakages in the ports, he affirmed that there are documentary evidences to attest that importers collude with officials of government agencies to defraud the government. He specifically alleged that the largest chunk of such losses is recorded through evasion and under-payment of Customs duty.
Bello added that in some cases, importers pay as little as 10 per cent of accruable revenue. He mentioned an instance where an importers paid a paltry N120,000 out of the N1.2Million duty that was to be paid.
He however confirmed that the Nigerian Shippers Council enjoys the cooperation of relevant agencies such as the Nigeria Customs Service, the Central Bank of Nigeria, the Nigerian Ports Authourity, among others.
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