Plans have been advanced for the slashing of duties on various vehicles by the Federal Government (FG), just as Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) says its fully automated, reports ITREALMS.
Vehicles are used for transporting people or goods, especially on land, such as a car, lorry, or cart to name but a few.
Disclosing this to ITREALMS, the Assistant Comptroller-General Kathleen Ekekezie, Zonal Coordinator, Zone 'A' Headquarters, Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), said that the duty rate on cars and other vehicles would come down very soon.
Receiving the executive members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) led by the chairman, Mr Adeleye Ajayi in her Lagos office, the ACG Ekekezie said that the zone was awaiting Federal Ministry of Finance to issue the circular for Customs to implement.
She also said that the service was now fully automated, stressing that importers could no longer come with doctored Bill of Lading.
According to her, now once the valuation of the vehicle is done, it is in the system and urged importers to be compliant with import rules and regulations.
"If you have brand new vehicles, you must have the Pre-Arrival Assessment Report (PAAR)," Ekekezie said.
On donated items coming into the ports, she said that the Federal Ministry of Finance had automated the grant of Import Duty Exemption Certificate (IDEC), explaining that the consignee would write the Federal Ministry of Finance for IDEC.
The next thing, she said, is to approach the Customs Service and make proper declarations.
She equally said that the service could curb smuggling, and that the service had good relationship with community leaders by telling them not to support smuggling.
Ekekezie, however, suggested that for the border communities, there should be good roads in the border communities; more hospitals and schools as well as cottage industries to create employment.
"African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) industries can be sited along the border areas. If government can do this within a short period of time, smuggling will no longer be attractive,’’ the customs chief said.
She described the media as friendly and a very important part of the service.
Ekekezie added that customs intervention units were meant to check revenue leakages, curb smuggling, ensure security of lives and property as well as trade facilitation.
Also, the Chairman, NUJ, Lagos State Council, Mr Adeleye Ajayi, was quoted in a press statement available to ITREALMS as commending the service for exceeding the N1 trillion mark since 2017.
He lauded the service for recording a total revenue of N1.5 trillion in 2020 and exceeded the target of N1.38 trillion target set for the command in the period under review.
Ajayi also commended the customs management for the ongoing reforms in the service, automation process, Nigeria Customs Integrated System (NICIS 11) software platform, robust stakeholders’ sensitization and the commitment of officers to work.
The NUJ Chairman also lauded the service for speedy deployment of scanners at the ports and border posts.
Ajayi commended the zonal coordinator for effective administration of the 13 commands and units under her jurisdiction.
The NUJ Chairman said the service had done well in its tripod functions of collection of customs revenue, facilitation of international and national trade and anti-smuggling activities.
He solicited the assistance of the service in terms of training and retraining in order to effectively report the activities of the service and avoid being misquoted.
Ajayi also called for the assistance of the service in completion of the ongoing remodeling of the secretariat of the union in Ikeja, Lagos.
Nenye Dom/Editor
Pix: L-R, Chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalists(NUJ), Lagos Council, Mr. Adeleye Ajayi and Assistant Comptroller-General Kathleen Ekekezie, Zonal Coordinator, Zone 'A' Headquarters, Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) during a courtesy call to Zone 'A' Headquarters in Lagos on Wednesday.
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