Customs Laments Over Lack Of Cooperation From Border Communities In Combating Smuggling
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) on Monday , attributed lack of cooperation and support from indigenes of border communities to be the major challenges faced by personnel of the service in recent times.
The service lamented that officers and men have paid the supreme price for policing and patrolling the border posts while combating smuggling activities.
Deputy National Public Relations Officer of the NCS ,Timinadi Bomodi who stated this in Lagos at a media parley added that personnel have been miamed, killed , assaulted, molested in the line of duty adding that management was worried about the ordeal.
Speaking on trade facilitation, Bomodi, a Deputy Comptroller of Customs also faulted alleged behaviour of some vehicle importers who adjust odometers on new vehicles to give a false impression of being a used vehicle that has covered high mileage with a view to evading accurate duty payment.
Speaking on Trade Facilitation, A Tool For Enhanced Revenue Generation: The NCS Perspective, he said the Service has achieved 90percent automation of its operation.
The spokesman noted that the degree of depreciation on used cars may not be the same even if the cars were manufactured same period.
He said the complaints by some importers and agents that there are variations in value and duty is being looked into using an improvised system of checking degradation of the used item being imported.
According to the customs spokesman, the service grapples with multiple cases of false declarations, concealments and other unlawful antics by some importers and their agents to underpay taxes.
Bomodi said the NCS has surpassed it’s 2021 revenue collection target by over N6 billion even when the year has not ended
He noted that despite the harsh operating atmosphere occasioned by the Covid-19 pandemic, the service collected a total of N2.3trillion between January 2021 to date thereby surpassing it’s target.
“As usual the year began with high expectations with regards to revenue generation and enforcement of fiscal policy.
“Based on the target achieved in 2020 the service was given the onerous task of collecting N1.679 trillion into the federation account. It was also expected to build on the successes of the border closure to stem the tide of illicit trade in small arms and light weapons, smuggling and other cross border crimes.”
“In August, the service made seizures of 17,137kg of pangolin scales, 44kg elephant tusks and 60kg pangolin claws, all valued at over N22billion.
“In October FOU operatives in Zone A seized 751 bullets concealed in garri sacks, while arms, ammunitions and military uniforms were intercepted at Tin Can Port Lagos in September 2021, just to mention a few.
“Apapa Area 1 Command through the cooperation of other sister agencies and the Nigerian Navy a landmark seizure of cocaine with a DPV of $54 million” he said
He noted that above particular seizure was unique “for the fact that the illicit substance was found in one of the compartments of a bulk carrier of sugar.”
“In the same Command 97 containers carrying illicit, expired drugs and other offensive goods with a DPV of N17.5billion were seized.”
He continues: “These numerous arrests and seizures are daily features in the activities of Customs officers nationwide, and they underscore the fact that we operate in a highly noncompliant environment.”
On automation, Bomodi said, “At current levels, NCS has integrated and automated over 90percent of its activities.
“Members of the public have continued to avail themselves of copious information on both its web based and mobile applications.
“The Service in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Finance has also introduced the National Vehicle Registry VReg portal which among other things incorporates an automated vehicle valuation mechanism that authenticate Vehicle Identity Number (VIN) and validates the make, model and year of manufacture for easy assessment of value for Customs purposes “
By Roland Ekama
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