Group Petitions Jonathan Over Benchmark Regime

Although the controversial Static Value Database (SDB) otherwise known as benchmark regime has been laid to rest, indication, have emerged that Nigeria has lost about 70 per cent of her cargoe throughput to neighbouring countries.

Investigations have also revealed that the country also recorded about 30 per cent decline in revenue generation and massive diversion of vessels to neighbouring countries within the last six weeks of the implementation of the benchmark.

Freight forwarding group under the aegis of National Council of Managing Directors Licensed Customs Agents (NCMDLCA) in an open protest letter to President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, made available to P.M.Maritime recently complained that the illegal imposition of the arbitrary SDB on imported commodities by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) informed the mass diversion of Nigerian bound cargoes to the ports in neighbouring countries.

National President, NCMDLCA, Lucky Amiwero alleged that the implementation of the suspended controversial benchmark has brought about uncertainty at the nation’s gateways, adding that Nigeria Customs Service contravened the country’s Customs and Excise Amendment (CEMA) Act with its implementation.

—Esther Komolafe