A maritime lawyer, Mr Osuala Nwagbara, on Wednesday in Lagos urged proper sensitisation of businessmen on the rules and regulations guiding importers and importation.
Nwagbara made the appeal at a one-day sensitisation workshop organised by the Nigeria Shippers’ Council in collaboration with the Centre for Transparency in Maritime Practices (CTMP).
He said that proper sensitisation would enable importers and exporters to know their rights and obligations, and could transform the informal sector into formal one.
A maritime lawyer, Mr Osuala Nwagbara, on Wednesday in Lagos urged proper sensitisation of businessmen on the rules and regulations guiding importers and importation.
Nwagbara made the appeal at a one-day sensitisation workshop organised by the Nigeria Shippers’ Council in collaboration with the Centre for Transparency in Maritime Practices (CTMP).
He said that proper sensitisation would enable importers and exporters to know their rights and obligations, and could transform the informal sector into formal one.
“When they export, they must be paid to remain in business.
“When they import, they should have their goods land in Nigeria safely, have them cleared from the ports safely and sell them and make profits.
“We don’t want to see a situation where businessmen start today, rise like meteor, and tomorrow disappear like meteor because of one form of malpractice in the port or the other.
“So when they are empowered with knowledge about rules and guidelines governing import and export, they will do better in their business and remain in business.’’
The maritime expert said that knowledge of procedures would enable importers to follow the right path and become better businessmen.
The President of CTMP, Mrs Julie Ogboru, said that many importers were not aware of their rights and the rules governing their businesses, adding that the situation had become a major constraint.
Ogboru also alleged that some importers falsified documents.
“Even if you want to import, you should know what you want to bring into this country; you should go through the Nigerian guidelines.
“Know what the government needs and what the government says will come into the country.
“This country is not a dumping ground; you don’t just bring goods because you want to make money.
“We want people to know their rights. If you know your right and I know my right, we will not run into problems.
“And then, you won’t say you don’t know. No, you should know.
“That is the more reason why you should read the government guidelines; they are guidelines, guiding every Nigerian that this is what you should bring and this is what you should not bring.
“Once you bring the right thing, the sky is your limit. Then, you can go to court; you can go anywhere and defend your goods.
“But in this case, because you are not sure of what you bring and the guideline is there, you did not follow the guideline, and your goods are seized.
“May be you went to the bank to collect money to bring in these goods and then they are seized.
“You know what it is, for somebody to seize your good and auction them out and you are indebted to the bank.’’
She urged the Federal Government to look into the high freight charges, which she said, were affecting the cost of doing business in Nigerian ports.
The workshop had the theme: “Sustaining Import/Export Business through Awareness of Rules and Procedures.’’
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