The Igbo Maritime Forum has lamented what it called, increase in the seizure of dully-cleared consignments by the Nigeria Customs Service, particularly the Zone 'C' of the Federal Operations Unit in Owerri and Zone 'A' in Ikeja, Lagos respectively.
The group equally observed that since the appointment of Col. Hameed Allinas the Comptroller General of Customs, there has been a sharp increase in the number of debit notes issued by the Customs on cargoes. The group however vowed that its members are not deterred by this, and are complying accordingly.
The Igbo Maritime Forum has lamented what it called, increase in the seizure of dully-cleared consignments by the Nigeria Customs Service, particularly the Zone 'C' of the Federal Operations Unit in Owerri and Zone 'A' in Ikeja, Lagos respectively.
The group equally observed that since the appointment of Col. Hameed Allinas the Comptroller General of Customs, there has been a sharp increase in the number of debit notes issued by the Customs on cargoes. The group however vowed that its members are not deterred by this, and are complying accordingly.
The Customs FOU Zone 'C' is headed by Comptroller Victor Dimka, while the FOU Ikeja Lagos is headed by Controller Amade Abdul.
But, the Customs has also challenged importers and their agents to embrace honesty in the transactions. Spokesperson of one of the Zones that were mentioned by the Igbo Maritime Forum spoke to one of our correspondents yesterday.
Speaking exclusively with Shipping Position Daily at the end of a meeting by the group in Apapa yesterday, Apapa Chapter Chairman of the IMF; Chief Mike Ekeocha alleged that the FOU Zone 'C' usually go to the markets and mount road blocks to sweep-in cargoes that have been cleared at the ports, demanding for fresh 100% examination of such containers.
The group lamented that a lot of money is lost in the process and that it is causing importers a lot of trauma.
Ekeocha said that the port is no longer friendly, and that activities are no longer booming because of the government's policies, especially the foreign exchange policies of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)
The Igbo Maritime chief said "We are bothered, in Owerri, the FOU felt that since the goods are not coming in as usual, they now go on the roads and into the markets to catch containers to do another hundred per cent examination"
"In Lagos, the FOU is still chasing our people, in Igbo Maritime, we are studying what is happening, trying to know the mind of government before we start to react".
Continuing, he said "Our importers are not happy, those that have imported could not sell their goods, they cannot get money to travel back and buy another one"
"Our agents complain a lot about what is happening in the port today, that things are no longer going smoothly, customs have changed, they are now very stiff on some issues" he said
But, in a swift reaction, the public relations officer (PRO) of the FOU, Zone ‘C’, Mrs Ifeoma Onuigbo said , Custom operatives only go after those who circumvent extant guidelines on importation, and those who out rightly engage in smuggling.
“Every genuine and honest importers have nothing to be afraid of, if you did not smuggle, underpay revenue or engage in any trade malpractice that can undermine the economy, you have nothing to be afraid of”, she told our correspondent.
She wonder why an importer will chose to flout import guideline or chose to evade payment of relevant revenue into government by embarking on smuggling, and after being caught he begins to blame the Federal Operations Unit.
“Do they expect that we should turn our faces away from their sharp practices, that is not possible , everyone who engages in sharp practices shall be dealt with when caught”, she assured.
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