CDF to empower furniture dealers on import documentation

The Cargo Defence Fund (CDF), an arm of the Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC), is putting together a two-day intensive training aimed at educating importers of Completely Knocked Down (CKD) furniture who are based in Alaba International Market, Lagos.

This sensitisation has become inevitable following the incessant harassments the importers witness in the hands of border control government agents who label them as smugglers.

Ogo Azuka, executive secretary, CDF, said it was very unfortunate that Nigerian traders suffered from so many challenges, most of which were borne out of lack of knowledge on the part of the trade-groups.

“People into legitimate trade run into the hands of law enforcement agents for smuggling goods that are not classified as contrabands. This is common among importers of CKD furniture,” she said.

According to her, the traders did not know the position of the law concerning their business, which had always resulted in payment of higher import duties than they would have paid if the importation was done properly.

“We are going to participate in this sensitisation which Cargo Defence Fund is organising as we have really suffered in the hands of Customs. They see us as smugglers because we all do not know much about the position of the law to our business,” Eze Okocha, a CKD furniture importer, said.

The two-day seminar on import/export rules and procedures will enlighten the trade group on the pros and cons of the trade.

The import prohibition list indicates that furniture is classified under H.S. Codes 9401.1000.00-9401.9000.99 and 9403.1000-9404.9000. Importation of baby walkers, laboratory cabinets such as microscope table, fume cupboards, laboratory benches (9403), stadium chairs, height adjustments device, base sledge, seat frames and control mechanism, arm guide and head guides are permitted. Also excluded from the above H.S. Codes are skeletal parts of furniture such as blanks, upholstered or unfinished part of metal, plastics, veneer, chair shell, etc. These are covered by the CKD furniture importers.