Nigeria Customs, Maritime Industry need collaboration to unlock AfCFTA Potential-CG Adewale

 

ZAINAB JUNAID

The Nigeria Customs Service has recommended collaboration between the service and the maritime industry to unlock the immense potential of the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement (AfCFTA).

The Comptroller General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, made this recommendation at the 43rd Annual Council Meeting and 18th Roundtable of Managing Directors/Exhibition of the Port Management Association of West and Central Africa (PMAWCA) on Monday, November 6, 2023, in Lagos.

The CGC stated that the objectives of the African Continental Free Trade Area present a beacon of hope for Africa's economic transformation, ranging from promoting intra-African trade to sustainable economic growth.

According to him, "These goals resonate profoundly with the eight-point agenda championed by the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu."

"An agenda that aspires to ensure food security, end poverty, foster economic growth, create jobs, provide access to capital, ensure security, improve the ease of doing business, uphold the rule of law, and combat corruption," he stated.

The CGC disclosed that Customs has taken proactive steps to align its activities with the aspirations related to trade facilitation and ports.

"Notably, our initiatives include transforming Nigeria into Africa's most efficient trading nation, addressing the long-standing issue of port congestion, and enforcing the Presidential Directive for the 48-hour clearance of goods at seaports in accordance with Executive Order 001.

"Furthermore, we are redefining performance measures for key government agencies to emphasize trade facilitation, implementing the National Single Window trading platform, and launching a comprehensive transformational program to support export development," he added.

The Customs Boss reminded participants of the need for Customs and the maritime industry to work together to ensure the success of AfCFTA.

"It is a powerful reminder that in this era of increased collaboration and interdependence, Customs and the maritime industry must work hand in hand to ensure the overall success of these initiatives," he said.

For him, the success of AfCFTA is deeply intertwined with the maritime industry, which plays a vital role in Customs operations and the realization of AFCFTA's objectives.

Customs FOU ‘A’ Arrests 9 in connection with Goods Worth N1.24bn in October

Seizes 7,381 units of 50kg foreign parboiled rice, 593 Jerrycans of PMS

ZAINAB JUNAID

The Federal Operations Unit(FOU) Zone A, of the Nigeria Customs Service(NCS) has arrested nine suspects in connection with some seizures worth one billion, two hundred and forty one million, seven hundred and seventy seven thousand, seven hundred naira only (N1,241,777,700) Duty Paid Value(DPV).

Speaking at a media briefing held today at the Unit to showcase the goods intercepted for October, Customs Area Controller of the Unit, Hussein Kehinde Ejibunu disclosed this while reeling out the list of seizures.

According to him, “Rice has been a recurring commodity in the list of seizures across various borders in the southwest zone and the Unit has seized a total of 7,381 units of 50kg foreign parboiled rice from smugglers which amounted to almost thirteen trailer loads of rice in the South West region. 

"A total of seventeen vehicles were also seized from smugglers who wanted to circumvent the law by evading duty payment, 593 jerrycans (14,825 litres) of premium motor spirit was also intercepted Because of the volatility of this product, we have safely disposed them in line with laid down rules."

Other seizures made are 657 pieces of used tyres, 167 (202 kg) parcels of Indian hemp, 39 bales of second hand-clothing, 100 packs of tomato ketchup, 4 units of used motorcycle, 600 cartons of GIV soap and 730 sacks of hide and skin hidden in a 1x40 container equivalent to 5,033 pieces.

In view of the number of vehicles seized by the Unit, Ejibunu restated that the ban on vehicle importation through land borders still subsists and smugglers should desist from its importation.

However, the continuous quest to prevent revenue loss through various infractions such as; under-valuation, under-payments, and wrong classification, the sum of N115,456,534.94 was collected by the Unit following the issuance of demand notices to defaulters.” 

He noted that  deployment of the improved logistics supplied by the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir A Adeniyi MFR; provision of strategic manpower placements to the Unit officers has made the drive to suppress smuggling easy and "the unit shall sustain efforts towards deploying the strategies continuously," he said. 

The Ag. Controller further read out riot act to all smugglers on the forth coming yuletide saying, "I  want to state that this Unit of the Service under my watch will make the remaining part of 2023 and beyond tough for smugglers in the interest of our country. We are ready to intercept them and frustrate their antics of concealment, illegal route passage, false declaration and under declaration. In addition, we are also determined to implement all the provisions of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023, including the various penalties attached to offences while striving to ensure that perpetrators face the full wrath of the laws."