ANLCA Seeks Benchmark For Automobiles

To stem the prevailing confusion in the business of vehicle clearance at the ports, the leadership of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) has again called on the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) to come up with a benchmark on all vehicular imports.

ANLCA National President, Prince Olayiwola Shittu, made the plea during a courtesy call on the Customs Area Controller (CAC) of the Port and Terminal Multiservices Limited (PTML), Tin-Can Island, Lagos, Comptroller Titus Aremu.

The ANLCA boss explained that they had made a similar call earlier before the Service introduced the suspended benchmark regime that affected 26 items.

According to him, the demand had become necessary in view of the discrepancies in duty at the various commands on same models of vehicles.

He noted that the duty differentials from one area command to the other was causing confusion in the system and posing problems for his members, noting such did not happen in other climes.

“We made the demand for a benchmark on vehicles earlier before the suspended one was introduced. Lack of a harmonised duty on vehicles is causing serious problem among our members; that is why we are requesting for a benchmark. With a benchmark, an agent will know that if he goes to command A or B, it is the same duty that will be paid for car or bus A or B. By this, he will be in a better position to advise the importer on what to pay,” Shittu said.

Shittu urged the CAC to put in place measures that would eliminate delays in the release of cargoes, pointing out that the problem was, however, not peculiar to the PTML Command as, according to him, it was a general challenge among all Customs formations.

He appealed to Aremu to do everything within his powers to halt the practice whereby goods were being re-examined at the exit gate after having received a clean bill of health from releasing officers to leave the port.

The ANLCA boss, however, acknowledged the difficulty the Service could find itself when what was declared on paper was at variance with what was in the container.

By Esther Komolafe