PTML Customs To Block 75 Clearing Licenses For Non-payment Of Post Clearance Commitments

The PTML Command of the Nigeria Customs Service has released 75 names of defaulting clearing agents and companies who have allegedly failed to pay monetary difference on duty on the cargoes that they had cleared from the port between January to December 2015.
This information was released by the head of PTML Customs Post Clearance Audit (PCA), Assistant Controller Naigwan C.K‎ on 27th of April 2016.
The statement was sighted by Shipping Position Daily yesterday. ‎ Although full details of the defaulting agencies and persons were kept under wraps, our correspondent nevertheless identified notable names on the list.
Our correspondent gathered that the agents had assessed Single Goods Declaration (SGD) forms, but they refused to pay their difference in duty, hence, a special committee of the PCA known as Committee for the Recovery of Unpaid Assessment had to step in to collect the money.
The customs statement says read in part: “In the course of auditing the system for compliance, it was discovered that the listed agencies therein have accessed SGD but they have not effected payment”
“The representatives of these agencies should report to the PCA on or before 6th of May 2016 or risk having their agencies blocked”.
Also confirming to our correspondent yesterday, Public Relations Officer of the command, Mr. Steve Okonmah said there were infractions in ‎the jobs cleared at the port with these practising licenses.
He said that a Debit Note (DN) would be raised for any of the defaulters that shows up at the unit within the time frame given. He however warned that those that fail to come forward will be blocked.
“The Post Clearance Audit Unit are to carry out post mortem, so there must have been an infraction and the first thing is to invite them to come and explain, if they come forward, a DN will be raised for them to pay”.
“Failure to pay this difference will lead to their licenses being shut down, it was the license that was used to clear the job‎, if you are invited and you refuse to come, the next thing is to force you to come by blocking your license” Okonmah said.