Freight forwarder cautions FG against setting revenue target for Nigeria Customs Service in 2016
Founder
of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF)
Chief Boniface Aniebonam, has advised the
Federal Government against setting revenue target for the Nigeria Customs Service
(NCS) in 2016.
of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF)
Chief Boniface Aniebonam, has advised the
Federal Government against setting revenue target for the Nigeria Customs Service
(NCS) in 2016.
Speaking at an interactive session with newsmen in
Lagos, Aniebonam said customs revenue should be dependent on cargo throughput
and the value of the consignments.
“If you go outside this country to import cargo and
you make genuine declaration for customs purposes, the duty will come out on its own,”
he said.
you make genuine declaration for customs purposes, the duty will come out on its own,”
he said.
The
freight forwarder said that the idea of setting revenue target, thereby forcing
the NCS to struggle to meet the target, was part of constraints of
international trade in Nigeria.
freight forwarder said that the idea of setting revenue target, thereby forcing
the NCS to struggle to meet the target, was part of constraints of
international trade in Nigeria.
He
said this was one of the major reasons why things were not working well at the
ports, and advised that the customs service should rather focus attention on
compliance by all port operators.
said this was one of the major reasons why things were not working well at the
ports, and advised that the customs service should rather focus attention on
compliance by all port operators.
He
said smuggling, false declaration, under-valuation and concealment among
others, were part of the factors that affected the customs revenue in 2015.
said smuggling, false declaration, under-valuation and concealment among
others, were part of the factors that affected the customs revenue in 2015.
“It
is not all about foreign exchange, the issue of smuggling also comes in. When
you smuggle goods into Nigeria, definitely government has lost revenue.
is not all about foreign exchange, the issue of smuggling also comes in. When
you smuggle goods into Nigeria, definitely government has lost revenue.
“Meeting
the target is not important. What is important is the compliance level by all
operators and all customs needs to do is to increase its supervision and
enforcement,” Aniebonam said.
the target is not important. What is important is the compliance level by all
operators and all customs needs to do is to increase its supervision and
enforcement,” Aniebonam said.
He,
therefore, urged President Muhammadu Buhari to set in motion, a process of
reviewing the port concession agreement signed with the port concessionaires in
2006.
therefore, urged President Muhammadu Buhari to set in motion, a process of
reviewing the port concession agreement signed with the port concessionaires in
2006.
He
said that despite the port concession exercise, the cost of doing business in
Nigerian ports remained high.
said that despite the port concession exercise, the cost of doing business in
Nigerian ports remained high.
Recall
that the NCS announced that it collected N903 billion in 2015 out of its N954
billion revenue target for 2015.
that the NCS announced that it collected N903 billion in 2015 out of its N954
billion revenue target for 2015.
The
service explained that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) policy restricting
importation of 41 items denied it some revenue.
service explained that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) policy restricting
importation of 41 items denied it some revenue.
