Barely a month after he was redeployed from the PTML command to the Tin Can Island command of the Nigeria Customs Service, Comptroller Zakari Jubril has slashed the unfriendly valuation rate on imported vehicles, even as freight forwarders operating at the port have commended him, saying that the step will boost port users’ confidence.
Barely a month after he was redeployed from the PTML command to the Tin Can Island command of the Nigeria Customs Service, Comptroller Zakari Jubril has slashed the unfriendly valuation rate on imported vehicles, even as freight forwarders operating at the port have commended him, saying that the step will boost port users’ confidence.
It would be recalled that prior to Zakari’s redeployment, importers and their freight forwarders had always complained and even accused the valuation unit of the command of high-handedness in issuing valuation for tariff payment on imported vehicles.
Speaking with Shipping Position Daily in Lagos yesterday, Tin Can Chapter Chairman of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) Mr. Uche Nwabude attributed the change to the redeployment of the former valuation officer of the command, Deputy Comptroller Talatu Isa to the Apapa port and replacing him with Deputy Comptroller Allana F.N from the PTML Command.
Nwabude expressed enthusiasm that the Tin Can port is now wearing a new atmosphere and that it is very healthy for business. He alleged that the former valuation officer does not use her discretion in issuing valuation on vehicles and this made importers to divert to the neighboring PTML command.
“If you get to Tin Can now there are a lot of changes going on, the issue of high tariff has gone down, before now the former valuation woman can just give you any price she decides to give you, but this new man has made Tin Can port friendly like it use to be before now”
“Before now, the valuation issued on vehicles use to be very high, but thank God for the valuation officer that has just been removed, since Allana came in, everything has normalized, God has simply heard our prayers that the woman should be removed, you can even see that the atmosphere is now peaceful compared to what it used to be” he said.
According to him, a car that was usually given at N350, 000 has today been reduced to N230, 000.
Also confirming the development to Shipping Position Daily, image maker of the Tin Can Custom Command, Mr. Chris Osunkwo explained that there used to be disparity in the application of discretion powers in the issuance of tariffs, but that this has been harmonized.
Osunkwo said that the custom headquarters usually releases a uniformed data base on vehicles but added that, “if there is any issue on tariff, you know that it bothers on application of discretionary powers”.
“The man at PTML is now here, the OC valuation of PTML is now in here, he came together with the CAC, we pray that whatever magic they applied at the PTML that made the thing to work will by the grace of God work here too” he said.
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