shippingposition
  • Home
  • News
  • Editorial
    • Vox Pop
  • Maritime safety
  • Oil and Gas
  • Personality
  • Health
No Result
View All Result
shippingposition

Home » NEPZA Kicks Against Customs Service Bill, Says Bill Will Cripple Free Trade Zones

NEPZA Kicks Against Customs Service Bill, Says Bill Will Cripple Free Trade Zones

by Joshua
December 17, 2021
in Featured, News

The Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA) has opposed some sections of the proposed Custom Service reform bill, saying that it will cripple Free Trade Zones in the country.

NEPZA

A statement issued on Thursday in Abuja by Mr Martins Odeh, Head, Corporate Communications, NEPZA, said that giving the Customs Service powers to make regulations in free zones would weaken Nigeria’s special economic zones.

According to Odeh, NEPZA in its submission at the ongoing public hearing on the Custom reform bill in the House of Representatives, noted that Free Zones are areas designated to serve as one-stop-shop investment hub.

“Incentives are provided in form of tax holidays, simplified Customs and Immigration processes, amongst others, with a view to attracting investors.

“The One-Stop-Shop concept, in furtherance of which regulations were made for all the active free zones with the involvement of the Nigerian Customs Service and all relevant stakeholders, would be eroded if the provisions of the bill are allowed.

“By providing regulations for the free zones, the Nigeria Customs Service would be setting a dangerous precedent, as other agencies would want to do same.”

Odeh said that the development if not nipped on the board would result in either multiple regulations that might be contradictory thereby creating avoidable legal tussles or make registration of enterprises unnecessarily cumbersome.

He added that the proposed sections of the bill seeking to make the Free Zones Customs-controlled zones sought to create antithetical Free Zones Customs Territory alien to the global free trade zone model.

While listing specific areas of the Bill it finds objectionable, the Authority stated that it had through the operations of the free zones contributed tremendously to the national economy.

Odeh pointed out that the Lekki Free Zone Quadrant that comprised Lekki Free Trade Zone, Lagos Free Zone, Dangote Free Zone Enterprises and the Alaro City Free Zone as well as Calabar Free Zone and Kano Free Zone are evidences of how it is fast tracking Nigeria’s industrialisation.

According to him, Dangote Free Zone, a national asset is a zone with enormous prospects for Nigerian economy.

“With the heightened insecurity in Nigeria amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic, the introduction of a new bureaucratic bottlenecks such as this proposed legal framework would only scare away investors and retard the free trade zone scheme.

Read Also:  Our Relationship With Shippers’ Council Cordial – MWUN

“Bureaucratic bottlenecks have been identified as one of the reasons for Nigeria’s low ranking on the World Trade Organisation’s index of Ease of Doing Business.

“The free zone scheme, therefore, seeks to tackle the problem of corporate investments characterised by bureaucratic challenges, multiple taxation, conflicting regulations,” he added.

Odeh further said that NEPZA had allayed fears of the Nigerian Customs Service about revenue leakages, adding that it had put in place proper customs procedures and regulations to guide investors operating in the zones.

He stressed that it was in order to avoid bureaucratic bottlenecks, while ensuring that all applicable laws, regulations and guidelines were duly observed.

“These safeguards, NEPZA noted, could be ascertained in its enabling Act, as well as the regulations of the respective free zones.

“The Authority, therefore, urged the National Assembly to be circumspect by avoiding the temptation of allowing any legal framework that would cripple NEPZA and the free zone scheme,’’ Odeh said.

shippingposition

Kindly like us on Facebook


Tags: Kicks Against Customs Service BillNEPZA

Related Posts

NPA Bags NASS PAC Transparency Award

NPA Bags NASS PAC Transparency Award

July 12, 2025
Nigeria Customs Says Claim Of Form ‘M’ Migration Charges False

Nigeria Customs Says Claim Of Form ‘M’ Migration Charges False

July 12, 2025
NCMDLCA Faction Distances Self from Amiwero’s Court Action, Backs CRFFN on POF Collection

CRFFN Showcases Reform Milestones, Dismisses Court Ruling Misinterpretation

July 12, 2025
NCMDLCA Faction Distances Self from Amiwero’s Court Action, Backs CRFFN on POF Collection

NCMDLCA Faction Distances Self from Amiwero’s Court Action, Backs CRFFN on POF Collection

July 12, 2025

Discussion about this post

Latest News

NPA Bags NASS PAC Transparency Award

NPA Bags NASS PAC Transparency Award

July 12, 2025

Nigeria Customs Says Claim Of Form ‘M’ Migration Charges False

CRFFN Showcases Reform Milestones, Dismisses Court Ruling Misinterpretation

NCMDLCA Faction Distances Self from Amiwero’s Court Action, Backs CRFFN on POF Collection

Customs Intercepts ₦9.2bn Worth of Fake Bedroom Booster, Others

Customs, NAFDAC Inaugurate Implementation Committee for 2024 MoU

Nigeria Customs Intercepts Container with Over 10,000 Donkey Genitals

Senate Hails Adeniyi’s Election as WCO Council Chair, Says It’s  a Major Win for Nigeria’s Global Trade Leadership

Oyetola Launches Door-to-Door’ Diplomacy for Nigeria’s IMO Council Bid

FG Urged To Link Warri-Itakpe Rail To Inland Ports, Road Networks

Red Sea Operation Rescues 4 More From Cargo Ship Sunk By Houthis

Shippers’ Council Set to Establish Border Information Centre at Idiroko, Bolster Trade Efficiency

kindly like our Facebook page

Health

Contraceptive Pills Can’t Cause Cervical Cancer – Expert
Health

Contraceptive Pills Can’t Cause Cervical Cancer – Expert

June 30, 2025

Mrs Roseline Akinlabi, Adolescent and Youth Sexual Reproductive Health Desk Officer, Osun Primary Healthcare Board, says contraceptive pills cannot cause...

ONIONS: The Good Old Healing Vegetable

KNOW YOUR BODY PARTS: The Liver

June 16, 2025
ONIONS: The Good Old Healing Vegetable

ONIONS: The Good Old Healing Vegetable

June 16, 2025
Why Prostate Disorder Cases Are Increasing Among Nigerian Men – Experts

Why Prostate Disorder Cases Are Increasing Among Nigerian Men – Experts

June 1, 2025
20m Nigerians Live With Mental Health Issues, Says WHO

20m Nigerians Live With Mental Health Issues, Says WHO

June 1, 2025
Health Facts You Didn’t Know

How Your Habit Affects Fertility

May 19, 2025
Fruits For Raining Season

Fruits For Raining Season

May 19, 2025
See Mental Illness Like Other Treatable Diseases – Says Suicide Survivor

Health Facts You Didn’t Know

May 19, 2025
Alligator Pepper: Benefits, FAQ, Side Effects, & Warning

Alligator Pepper: Benefits, FAQ, Side Effects, & Warning

April 28, 2025
Water And Health: The Relationship That Helps Life

Water And Health: The Relationship That Helps Life

April 28, 2025

© 2021 Shippingposition

Navigate Site

  • Home
  • About Us
  • Contact us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Sitemap
  • Terms

Follow Us

No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • Coast To Coast
  • Oil and Gas
  • Maritime Education
  • The Terminals
  • Maritime safety

© 2021 Shippingposition