Even as divergent reactions continue to trail the unexpected cancellation of the controversial benchmark on customs duty by the Nigeria Customs Service, a frontline freight forwarder and national president, National Council of Managing Director of Licensed Customs Agents, Mr Lucky Amiwero has confirmed that it was indeed the petition that he sent to both the Senate President and the Presidency that made Customs to beat a retreat.
Even as divergent reactions continue to trail the unexpected cancellation of the controversial benchmark on customs duty by the Nigeria Customs Service, a frontline freight forwarder and national president, National Council of Managing Director of Licensed Customs Agents, Mr Lucky Amiwero has confirmed that it was indeed the petition that he sent to both the Senate President and the Presidency that made Customs to beat a retreat.
He confirmed that he got a reply to his petition to the Presidency last Friday, less than 72 hours after news filtered out that the Customs have been directed to abolish the benchmark.
According to him, within the short time that benchmark was introduced, about 60 per cent of cargoes that were to have been destined for Nigeria have been diverted to ports of neighbouring countries.
Even with the cancellation of benchmark, “it will take us another three years to get back our cargo”, he stated, even as he stressed that Nigeria will have to work hard to bring back the cargo.
Mr Amiwero told Shipping Position Daily that it was wrong for the Customs to have expected to force the illegality called benchmark down the throat of importers; it has no basis in law, apart from its negative implication on cargo importation into Nigeria.
He confirmed that he was forced to take the bull by the horns, when it was obvious to him that virtually everyone who is likely to be affected by the strange introduction have been swayed.
“Benchmark has no basis under the law; it totally negates the provision of the Customs and Excise Management (amendment) Act 20 of 200”, he stressed, even as he told our correspondent that the petition was also received by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, The Minister of Finance and the Honourable Speaker, House of Representatives
Amiwero had in the controversial petition called the attention of the government to what he called “forcefully imposition of fictitious and arbitrary value on the trading.”
He appealed that Customs should be made “to comply with the provision of Custom and Excise Management (Amendment) Act 20 of 2003, which clearly sets out the criteria for the treatment of valuation of goods, so as to ease the tension at the ports.”
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