... to Launch Full Scale Authorised Economic Operator Programme
ZAINAB JUNAID
In a bid to fill the vacuum created in the operations of the already established Fast Track 2.0 system which was launched by the Nigeria Customs Service six months ago, the service is set to launch a full scale authorised economic operator programme which will built on the foundation already established by the Fast Track system.
The Ag. CGC of the service, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, said this while engaging stakeholders, Customs Officials and Journalists at Oyo Area Command of the Service on Monday stating that the efficiencies and missing gaps created in the operations of the Fast Track system have been studied, reviews and corrections have been made on it and the Service is set to launch the AEO.
CGC Adewale disclosed that steering committee that will midwive the beginning of the AEO has been setup, working groups that will be saddled with the responsibilities of the day to day running of the AEO will also be constituted soon.
According to him, "The Service has been assured of cooperation and support from the World Customs Organisation and international partners who are interested in facilitating trade in Nigeria. Electronic transmission of Customs Document has been backed by law. Manifest declaration, payments among other customs activities are now backed by the law."
He assured the stakeholders present at Oyo/Osun command that seperate mechanism has been created under new customs law which will act as a machinery for resolution of dispute.
In his words, "The new customs acts open up new initiatives that customs can drive to champion the course of trade facilitations. Under the new law, new mechanism has been opened for resolution of dispute of classifications, evaluation on HS issues that are related with customs procedures."
He enjoined the stakeholders to continue to cooperate with customs as this will make regulation of international trade to change for better in the days ahead.
The stakeholders(manufacturers)who were represented by Adegoke Joseph, Plant Manager, Nigeria Bottling Company; Isaac Isreal of SevenUp Bottling Company; Danjuma Donny Kelly of Nigerian Breweries and Edward Omojumi of BAT respectively, on their parts, commended the Ag CGC for his commitment towards achieving and enhancing Trade Facilitation in the country and promised a continuous collaboration with Nigerian Customs Service to collectively achieve this goal.
They expressed satisfaction with the existing collaboration and cooperation between them and the service especially in the payment and collection of the indirect tax levied on the production and consumption of their goods but also use the opportunity to relay the challenges they faced in the course of discharging their activities.
Omojuwon Edward of BAT stressed that Excise policy and the issue of illicit trade have been a major factor affecting the revenue of manufacturers in Nigeria and called on the Service to continue to deploy policy that will alleviate illicit trading which will inturn improve production activities of the manufacturers and revenue for both NCS and manufacturers respectively.
The CGC in his response to the afore shortcomings, reiterated that regular consultation and collaboration with manufacturers will be his cardinal objective in discharging his mandate and to also ensure stakeholders problems are being resolved amicably without delays.
To him, "We are committed to strengthening partnership with stakeholders as Excise traders are expected to be National heroes of our country. We are aware of the challenges and the circumstances at which they produce their products and still pay their excise duty despite difficulty faced. Partnership with them should be cherished. We must periodically open doors for consultations with them, get to understand their problems, which should be paramount to us. The totality at which they increase the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) inspired me to be more committed in strengthening partnership with them. We will continue to work with you as we make progress in our development and modernization in our achievements and make you part of our records. If your company folds up, its going to have adverse effect on excise duties and unemployment will hike in the society but if you succeed and have turnover in millions through multiplier effect, we will see your positive impact in area of employment and excise payment. So we will continue to partner with you to enhance your productivity and also improve trade in the economy."
However, in a related development, CGC Adewale noted that the Service's record of National Council Trade facilitation would be the anchor for advancing number of initiatives related to trade facilitation in the country as Customs Service is set to host the committee that is domiciled in the ministry of Industry Trade and Investment.
"We want to give the committee a new life. I have had engagement with Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, NACCIMA. We are going to host the next meeting with the committee and we are planning to host a retreat of all members of the committee along with customs. This is to know vital things that can be deployed to facilitate trade better than its being done before.
"Seconodly we want to resuscitate customs consultation committee, a platform where stakeholders, private sectors and customs will come together to discuss ailing issues. This used to exists 15-20 years ago. Where i was part of those who initiated it back then but successive heads of customs have not paid desired attention to the existence and the workings of this committees. We have met and planned to resuscitate this forum, so that we can periodically interact to find solutions to pending issues," he maintained.
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