Failure of the Republic of Benin government to comply with the internationally accepted best practices in the canalisation on the importation of fairly used vehicles into Nigerian is posing a threat to revenue generation for the Nigerian government, the Seme Command of the Nigeria Customs Service has said.
At a press briefing held at the command last week, the command lamented that the Beninoise customs has no way assisted their Nigerian counterpart in the collection of duty on Nigeria -bound vehicles which in turn encourages to smuggling on the port of the importers.
Failure of the Republic of Benin government to comply with the internationally accepted best practices in the canalisation on the importation of fairly used vehicles into Nigerian is posing a threat to revenue generation for the Nigerian government, the Seme Command of the Nigeria Customs Service has said.
At a press briefing held at the command last week, the command lamented that the Beninoise customs has no way assisted their Nigerian counterpart in the collection of duty on Nigeria -bound vehicles which in turn encourages to smuggling on the port of the importers.
Addressing journalists on the challenges the command, the Customs Area Controller in charge of Seme border; Alhaji Othman Abdu Saleh said that Nigeria-bound vehicles via Benin Republic is an issue that has been discussed by the customs top hierarchy in Abuja.
“I even discussed it with our ambassador over there, where he promised that he will discuss with our government", he explained.
"The issue is this, I think they have a car park here(at there on end of border) and they are collecting certain amount of money and that is why they are not ready to allow those vehicles to take this right route", he alleged.
"You can imagine, vehicles that are cleared in Cotonou port will be escorted under arms to the border but they will not hand over to us".
"What they do is that they hand over to those at the car park and it has been an issue to us”.
"Because of what they are gaining they don't want to do the right thing, but we are still on it and even our Customs Consultative Forum was here and is also a major problem I mentioned to them and they said they will take it up, so I think that one is under consideration".
He also stated that it is a serious problem because the government is losing huge money in regards.
"You can imaging maybe 100 vehicles will come to that park but you hardly see 50 or 60 that come to pay duty, while they allow others to go anywhere they want."
While conducting journalists round the park where seized vehicles were kept, the Deputy Controller of the command; Mrs. Olubiyi Ronke said that lives of her officer were at risk during operations.
She noted that smugglers often run through the bush and officers of the command put their lives on the line in ensuring that they arrest the situation.
Olubiyi said that her personnel are well trained and capable of dealing with the situation, adding that there is always a strategy to intercept the smugglers at any given point.
She wondered why Nigerian importers will import expensive vehicles and would want to cut corners to evade duty payment.
She said the Seme command usually hold meetings and seminars with the community leaders and youths in other to sensitize them on the danger involved in smuggling, but lamented that smuggling still persists.
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