Stakeholders in the nation’s maritime sector have faulted the controversial Nigeria Customs Service Bill, saying that the Bill which is currently being considered by the Senate will hamper port operations, the Nigerian economy and that it is also inimical to trade facilitation.
Speaking at a forum put together by Maritime Industry Advocacy Initiative [MAIN] in conjunction with Ports Gist and Event on TV, the stakeholders specifically said that the Nigerian Customs Service [NCS] as an institution of the government is trying to ambush the economy of the country.
Stakeholders in the nation’s maritime sector have faulted the controversial Nigeria Customs Service Bill, saying that the Bill which is currently being considered by the Senate will hamper port operations, the Nigerian economy and that it is also inimical to trade facilitation.
Speaking at a forum put together by Maritime Industry Advocacy Initiative [MAIN] in conjunction with Ports Gist and Event on TV, the stakeholders specifically said that the Nigerian Customs Service [NCS] as an institution of the government is trying to ambush the economy of the country.
But, the Comptroller General of Customs, Alhaji Dikko Abdulahi Inde has however declared that the controversial Bill will soon be signed into law by President Goodluck Jonathan.
While speaking during his visit to the Kirikiri Lighter Terminal as well as the Tin Can command of the Customs yesterday, Dikko assured the officers that the Customs Bill at will be forwarded to President Goodluck Jonathan in the next two weeks, even as he assured his officers and that the bill will be signed into law.
But leading the debate at the forum, factional President of National Council of Managing Director of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents, Mr. Lucky Amiwero who is also a member of the Presidential committee on Reform of Customs said that if the bill eventually scales through the Senate, it will render the President of the country powerless, even as he stressed that the minister of finance also has restricted regulatory power from the bill sent to the Senate.
Citing section 203, 206 and 207 of the bill, he said that the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria [MAN] will suffer in the hands of the Customs if the Bill is allowed to pass.
He said that members of MAN are liable to face stringent jail terms if the bill eventually scales through, pointing out that MAN as body will be under the supervision of the Customs.
He called on stakeholders sector to look into the bill critically because, according to him, it will send a wrong signal for international trade and trade facilitation.
He urged that all stakeholders in the maritime sector should come together with one voice to ensure that the bill is not passed into law.
On his part, Founder of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders [NAGAFF], Dr .Boniface Aniebonam said that the bill is fast moving, adding that the president of the country has the power to give directives over all the ports in the country.
He said that the bill will be examined by him and the association’s lawyer before the next meeting of the stakeholders which comes up on the 3rd of January, 2013.
He reiterated that the bill before the Senate is critical to the maritime industry, even as he called on stakeholders in the industry to unite and take responsibility of commitment and cooperation.
In his own reaction, Chairman Association of Maritime Truck Owners, Remi Ogungbemi thanked stakeholders for coming up with the vision to kill the bill.
Ogungbemi said that truck operators in the industry have suffered from various government policies adding that some of the policies are draconian to them.
He said many of the truck owners have suffered from the hands of customs as a result of seizure.
He also called on key stakeholders in the industry to lend their voice toward efforts to oppose the bill.
Also in his contribution, Deputy National President of NAGAFF, Barrister Fred Akokhia lauded the organizers of the event for being proactive on critical issues as they affect the maritime industry.
Akokhia reiterated that the maritime industry serves as a means of livelihood to stakeholders therefore it must not be ambushed by the customs and called on everyone to contribute their own quota in ensuring that the bill is not passed by the senate.
According to him the bill was put together illegally, adding that the drafter to the bill has hidden agenda.
‘’We live in a society where certain people want to create favour for themselves ‘’. ‘’The Customs Excise and Management Act is the operational fiscal document of the government and it is the head of the government that the customs is saying that they do not have power to do certain things and putting it to someone who was appointed by the president of the country?, pointed out.
Similarly, Mrs Julie Ogboru from the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry [LCCI] described the bill a evil , and called on stakeholders to take drastic actions to ensure that the bill is not passed into law as it will affect generations yet unborn.
The forum was also attended by representatives of NPA, SON, NACCIMA and NIMASA, all of whom expressed readiness to partner with the organizers of the forum, as they prepare for a breakfast meeting to finally articulate the industry’s position on the bill.
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