Peter Paul Uzobude (Member of ANLCA)
Peter Paul Uzobude (Member of ANLCA)
I don’t think there is need for benchmark to be reintroduced in Nigeria, for instance, importing computers from South Africa, China, Korea which are of different prices but imposing benchmark entails that they will eventually be sold at the same rate. It is those who are so desperate to destroy the image of this country, especially those who are not in love with this country are those that are concerned about the so- called benchmark since people of this world are not of the same standards, so you can’t expect equality. Also, for example, you import goods from Japan, China, Korea and the United States and we know that the superior goods come from Japan, let’s now assume that those goods are worth N10million each, so will you sell all the goods at the same price knowing that the goods from the other states are inferior to Japan’s?
Uche Increase (Nat. Sec. NAGAFF)
I would not say I’m in total support of it or against the benchmark. Discussion was going on when the issue was introduced at the town hall meeting, we all saw the mapped-out duties to be paid, it was on the high side, a committee had to be set up to look into it, while the committee was still on it, fictitious petitions started spreading to the presidency that culminated into the customs withdrawing it. So, for now, even if the president of ANLCA demands that benchmark should be reintroduced on vehicles while our people also went on air again to demand that the issue of benchmark should be revisited and be put in place, we can see that each party has their own reasons for demanding such position to be taken. But for us, if at all there is any need for benchmark to be reintroduced; there must be human face because the first one they set was too high. If we look at our system and discover that there is a way we can apply caution so that loses or punitive measures are not meted out to our people, it should be allowed.
Longman Odozi (Stakeholder)
It would have been best if the maritime industry can do without benchmark, because it will fall back on the people especially the market and there is no way you will bring such a benchmark here, that the freight forwarders will not make it fall back to where the demand is, that is the people. Government is supposed to understand that there are a lot of things to push in for the people and not just because you want to make money, at the end of the day, you make the people suffer, moreover we don’t see the end result of these monies that are being collected. I am opposed to the decision of benchmark because we have not gone to the extent of ensuring that the system will make it work.
Joseph Anosike [Freight Forwarder]
It is a welcome idea if the stakeholders in the industry are properly carried along this time around because, the last time at the town hall meeting put together by the Nigeria customs Service to explain the benchmark to importers and freight forwarders, to me I felt they were trying to impose it on us, but by and large I expect that the benchmark re -introduction into the system will be able to address some critical issues about importation.
Alhaji Akanni Balogun (ANLCA Chieftain)
The problem with the benchmark thing is that some people are confused and this is because they cannot analyze what the benchmark is all about, especially as it concerns used vehicles, therefore, I will suggest that the benchmark policy be re-introduced, but this time around the Nigeria Custom Service should take a decision to jettison it on vehicles, vehicles should be analyzed based on the discretion of the valuation unit of the custom, but the benchmark should be used on all other cargoes. The agents that are calling for the return of benchmark and who really need it are the big players, not on the minor cargoes like second hand vehicles. Benchmark is a good policy introduced by the federal ministry of finance in order to help them checkmate the activities of unscrupulous importers, so I think they should adjust it and bring it back.
Alloy Uchegbu (NAGAFF Secretary, PTML)
I don’t think it should be reintroduced, benchmark is something that the Customs contrived in order to boost their own revenue, we have not yet developed to the level that they wanted us to operate, what they are telling us is that with benchmark, when you are taking jobs from an importer you know what to expect as your gain on the job, but I don’t think our economy has grown to the level where things like that will be operated. I think imports should be treated purely on their merit. Already, Abuja has released a document on the valuation of used vehicles which every command has, but you know that just like every other way of life, every port has its own peculiarities. Personally I don’t think re-introducing the benchmark is necessary.
Ugochukwu Nnadi (NAGAFF Chairman, PTML Chapter)
I support the return of benchmark, but unfortunately many of the people that kicked against it when it was introduced were Customs men, it is a very good policy, the only problem with it was that it was introduced without proper enlightenment, if people had been enlightened and made to understand the purpose which it is meant to serve and the reason why it is being introduced, I believe people would not have misunderstood it, you need to understand that human beings hate change, and even the Customs men were not helping matters, the actions of many of them towards the benchmark was counterproductive, Customs should have enlightened the people before introducing the idea, no matter how good a gift is, if it is over-wrapped, the person receiving it could be suspicious and receive it with apprehension. The people calling for the return of benchmark, do they really want it back or they just want to be heard, because some of the people I have seen and heard talking about benchmark are the same people that hardly want to pay their duty on cargoes, yet they want to cut corners and perform magic, they want to create crisis so that they can maneuver.
Elder Ofoma (NAGAFF Chieftain)
Since things are not moving the way it should, importers have refused to come and pick up their containers at the port and we are currently looking at port congestion, my own stand is that any policy that is against the smooth flow of operations at the port, I will not support it, therefore if the benchmark will be reintroduced, let it be based on transaction value, it should not be brought back to hurt anybody, it is not the one that your value will be N6million and customs will ask you to go and pay N8million, I support that the benchmark be brought back but it must be done in a way that the agent will be happy, the importer will be able to sell and make gains, and the Customs will also be happy.
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