2nd March, 2012
The National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) has called on its members to continue to make genuine and honest declaration for Customs purposes.
According to a statement signed by Simeon Nwonu, the National Publicity Secretary of NAGAFF, “this is because Sections 46 and 47 of the Customs and Excise Management Act (CEMA) consider such acts as offences punishable with a five-year jail term or outright seizure of such import on conviction. “Therefore any importer or agent who runs foul of this law risks imprisonment and economic loss,” he added.
NAGAFF also urged the management of the Nigeria Customs Service to release its circular concerning the new bench-marked duty assessment by the Customs authorities. The body also appealed to the management of the Nigeria Customs Service “not to kill a fly with a sledge hammer on matters of trade default.
“Much as we don’t begrudge the Customs management in any effort they deem fit to shore up their revenue collection in view of the N1 trillion revenue target for 2012, especially in a corrupt society, we advise the Customs to go systematically.
“We at the NAGAFF appreciate the current effort by the Nigeria Customs Service to ensure that all approved Customs entry points enjoy equitable duty assessment with a view to ensuring healthy competition in the economy.
The statement continued: “We are of the firm belief that the solution to the on-going blackmail, name-calling, mudslinging, threats to persons and authorities, evasion of Customs duty and the alleged bench-marking of import is to make genuine and honest declaration to Customs.
“It is our belief that the Nigeria Customs Service may be reacting to under-declaration of imports by importers, using administrative imposition of duty as a deterrent, instead of evoking Sections 46 and 47 of the CEMA, which stipulate penalties including seizure of imports and prosecution of offenders,” NAGAFF added.