Customs, cesspool of corruption, confusion -Stakeholders

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has continued to draw flak over its recent policy statement mandating vehicle owners, whose customs’ duties have not been paid to do so at the various zonal offices of the service within one month with many stakeholders wondering how the vehicles were able to get on to the roads in the first place.

Surprised at the development, concerned Nigerians are wondering the rationale behind the action of the Nigerian Customs, describing it as an ambush against the ordinary Nigerian.

One of the aggrieved Nigerians and a public commentator in an online post, said “before now, I thought the policy is ill advised.

You did not import a vehicle but went to an authorised dealer and bought a car.

“With the receipt and Customs documents the dealer issued you, you approach Motor Registration and Licencing authorities and they verify you and issue you all the legal documents to use for your car. Years down the road, the
Customs comes to ask you to pay Customs’ duty on the car that you bought but did not import.

What type of madness is that? Must the ordinary citizen continue to suffer multiple jeopardy in face of bureaucratic muddles?”

Also reacting to the statement on vehicle duties, publicity secretary of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), Stanley Ezenga, said the Customs’ directive was an indication of the inefficiency of the service to carry out its mandate.

“The statement indicted the Nigerian Customs. It is another way of telling Nigerians that some of the personnel that mount the borders are not living up to expectations.

There is no gainsaying the fact that corruption abounds in the port environment, not excluding the land borders.
“We are of the impression that much waters must have passed under the bridge before those vehicles were allowed into the country.

Instead of the system tracking those who have escaped, they should concentrate more in blocking the loopholes, which not only will improve the revenue to the government, but also ensure that prohibited goods do not find their
way into the country.”

Ezenga also called on the Comptroller General of Customs (CG) Hameed Alli to further brace up for the daunting task ahead.

“The CGC should brace up for the job. The bad eggs in the system should be shown the way out.

Officers who compromise their position should be made to face the same treatment as the agents.

Emphasis should be more on prevention and anti-smuggling activities than trade facilitation. Trade facilitation equipment like intuitive scanners should be installed in the ports,” he concluded.

On his part, President, National Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents (NCMDLCA), Lucky Amiwero, says the latest action by the Nigeria Customs Service depicts an agency that is confused about what its responsibilities should be.

“I think the Nigeria Customs Service is confused. Once a car is in circulation, either it comes in through the land border or through the ports, they (Customs) cannot go and start arresting those cars. Where were they when the cars hit the streets in the first place?