Stop Cutting Corners — Customs CG Tells Importers, Agents, Others

The Comptroller General,  Customs Service;  Col Hamed Ibrahim Ali (Rtd) has reechoed the need for importers, agents and other stakeholders doing business in Nigerian ports to stop sharp practices  and improve the quality of their transactions to enhance well being of Nigerians.
The Customs CG gave the appeal in Port Harcourt on Friday during a stakeholders’ interactive meeting with him.
He described situation where Nigerian importers deliberately import substandard goods.‘’ Nigerians go and tell manufacturers in other countries like China to lower the standard of goods to be imported into the country. This is on the mindset to make excessive profit. Time has come for us to begin to correct all of these’’, the Customs chief appealed importers and agents at the parley.
Explaining the rationale behind placing certain items on prohibition list, the Customs CG said the Federal Government took the decision in order to protect the Nigerian economy.
He said Nigerian manufacturers need to be encouraged to remain in business, instead of allowing substandard foreign goods to stifle their operations.
While explaining the differential charges on cargo in neighbouring countries and that of Nigeria, the CG said Cotonou ports in Benin Republic charges 10% tax on cargo because it is a transit cargo. He noted that 60% duty is charged on rice coming to Nigeria, because the rice is to be sold and consumed in the country.
He said the 60% duty is even to discourage importers from importing, and instead to encourage them to go into mechanized agriculture of mass production of rice locally. He tasked importers to do the needful and to understand that government is trying to stabilize the economy.
The Customs CG also assured that under his leadership, achieving 48 hours cargo clearance is possible. He differed from the views of agents who expressed doubts about achieving 48 hours cargo clearance.
He stated that, “48 hours counting for customs commences when the cargo is off the vessel. Remember you start counting 48 hours from the time Customs takes charge. I assure you that this 48 hours cargo clearance is achievable. We will try to make it to work’’.