Customs bans debit note, returns to full human inspection

Piqued by the failure of its fast track system to check abuses within the process of clearing goods, the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Col. Hameed Ali (rtd) has banned henceforth the issuance of Debit Note (DN) for under-declared cargoes.

And in a move that will likely erode the gains of ports system facilitation, Ali also directed that henceforth, all container imports will undergo 100 per cent physical examination, while under-declared goods are to be forfeited.

Ali, who spoke to newsmen in Lagos after his visit to APM Terminals, Apapa, where 16 40ft containers documented as bond papers and machinery for local production were seized for actually containing new tyres,blamed licensed agents for the situation, stating that they should be aware of what their clients are importing.

Therefore, “we have no option than to subject every good that comes through the ports to 100 per cent human scrutiny because the privilege of fast tracking has been abused. Nobody, if caught, would be handled with kids’ gloves because these kinds of dealings are dangerous to the lives of people,” he said.

According to him, licensed agents are like lawyers and should know the real content of the cargo they are clearing, and declare it correctly because “if an entry is wrong, you will be held liable as an agent. You owe it to us and to yourself to declare correctly because it is your integrity that is also at stake.”

The NCS had created the fast track process to enable big importers take possession of their cargoes and pay duties later as a way of facilitating trade and encouraging local production.

Meanwhile, Ali insisted that the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) would examine the tyres, which would later be auctioned if they pass the SON test.

The Area Controller of Apapa Area Command, Comptroller Willy Egbudin said the discrepancy cost the NCS over N116million in actual duties, adding that 10 containers among the questionable 26 had already left the port and were being traced while the agent has been arrested.

The agent, Mr. Dominic Obisaku had argued that he made the entry as instructed by the importer, whose job was outsourced to him, though he would rather not name his employers or the importer.

Meanwhile, Ali said the NCS would soon begin the electronic auction system (e-Auction), where interested persons would bid online for all seized and electronically displayed items, and paymentmadethrough the banks.