Again, Customs promises to implement outright forfeiture on dubious imports

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Apapa Area one command said it would no longer raise debit notes (DN) for goods that have false declaration document with the intention of short changing the government.

Willy Egbudin, controller, Apapa command told SHIPS & PORTS DAILY in an interview that the command has since commenced implementation of the Comptroller General’s directive that no debit notes be issued for such goods.

He said some unscrupulous importers had taken advantage of Customs leniency to raise debits notes for goods that have been falsely declared but pointed out that going forward, such goods would be impounded as stipulated in the Customs and Excise Management Act (CEMA). He however explained that circumstances that would warrant issuing DN would only be when a particular item have not been not properly classified or undervalued.

“We won’t raise DN on false declaration. We would only give DN when there is wrong classification, under valuation and under declaration. Perhaps we have been treating the importers with kid gloves and that is why they are doing what they like. We have also been educating the importers too that no matter what entry is saying about the import, that the main thing is the SGD, thus we encourage them to declare the right thing,” he said.

On revenue generation, the Customs boss said apart from the increase in exchange rate, measures put in place by the command including going after importers who are yet to pay for their cargo also contributed, has helped their revenue generation drive.

He said the command collected N28billion in July, surpassed its monthly target of N32billion in August and September, with a collection of N35billion and N33billion respectively.