6th January, 2011
The Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Alhaji Dikko Abdullahi, has identified poor legislaton and weak penalty as challenges which must be overcome before the country could expect increased honesty from importers and agents in the operations of the international cargo regime.
The GGC in a paper presented by Deputy Comptroller Olalekan Dada noted that while cargo facilitation has increased in value and essence, its governing laws have remained unchanged, and thus gradually become incapable of compelling operators’ obedience. “Maximum penalty for underpayment is N600. This is what has been in place since 1958,” observed the CGC, noting that there was also a seemingly lack of political will to make necessary changes.
Other challenges, he stated, include insincere declaration by importers/agents, which he said ranged from over-invoicing, under-invoicing, concealment; multiplicity of government agencies with direct intervention in the clearance process, particularly as it affects physical examination; undue interference through blackmail to bend the rules; inadequate cargo handling equipment at terminals; inadequate coordination between governmental agencies and the general lack of trust between the private and the public sectors.
—Esther Komolafe
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