The Police and some government agencies have been fingered, as stumbling blocks to the realization of a cost effective cargo clearance in Apapa area one seaport, which greatly affects trade facilitation.
The Customs Area Comptroller (CAC), Compt. Willy Egbudin, promised to meet with the agencies, who were invited for the meeting but absent, very soon, to discuss how their mode of operations impede trade facilitation.
The CAC reminded stakeholders that the Comptroller General of Customs posted him to the Apapa Area One Command to Re-position it for maximum revenue collection and facilitate trade and he also solicited the cooperation of other stakeholders to achieve its revenue target for the year 2016
The Area Project Manager (APM)-D/C Yusuf also explain the problem facing PAAR. He said that issues arise when information on the documents presented for the issuance of PAAR are totally inconsistent, especially when compared with contents of the container, on physical examination. He advised Agents to always study all documents thoroughly, before data capturing, to avoid delays, queries and issuance of Demand Notice (DN) usually arising from the low values and wrong classifications.
It was advised that spaces should not be left when items are being loaded into a container, as such may be misread by the scanners and return as suspect. Also, items must be arranged according to the same sizes – inside the containers, such that when scanned, it will be able to reveal exactly what is therein.
On the allegations against the valuation unit for using outdated database and relying more on internet values/costs to generate value of goods, the CAC simply advised that importers must declare honestly, and agents should stop assisting importers to defraud the FGN. He said “those complaining should note that those who come to equity must come with clean hands”.
Representative of shipping council responding to issues raised about the regulatory role of shippers council in facilitating trade
Stakeholders also challenged the Nigeria Shippers Council (NSC) for not doing their job as ports system regulators, especially against the attitudes and impunity of shipping companies and terminal operators. Incidences abound of how shipping companies don’t refund containers deposit on time. It was announced that henceforth any shipping company that refuses to refund container deposit in 7 days, should be reported to NSC for prompt action
On fast track cargoes, the APM indicted the customs brokers for not doing the right thing, despite the fact that most times, the server/network goes down and nothing else can be done in circumstances like that. However, members were told that once fast track jobs are captured and paid for, due diligence ought to be carried out, such that pre-releases and inspection act follows immediately. Agents should also desist from lodging fasttrack jobs towards the end of business of the day time. They should endeavor to bring forth their documentation early enough to warrant adequate attention.
The CAC also gave a directive to the terminal operator- APMT to position a forklift to be used to offload consignments, in case such service is demanded by Customs, which should not be at any cost, because such service has been paid for. There should be no room for charges for services not rendered.
He also stated that all stakeholders must cooperate to ensure a harmonious working relationship that should guarantee trade facilitation, and clear cargo cost effectively, while generally/collecting maximum revenue for the Federal Government of Nigeria.
0 comments