Customs Directive on Trade Malpractices Hits Importers - A directive said to have been issued to all the various customs commands throughout the country to enforce strictly import guidelines has taken a toll on goods delivery at the Lagos seaports. The directive which is targetted at addressing decades of trade malpractices was handed down by the Comptroller-General, Alhaji Dikko Abdullahi. It is for the customs commands at the seaports and border stations to ensure that correct duties are paid on all cargoes that are to be cleared. The directive was also for the commands to ensure that any consignment having problem of concealment and under-declaration are treated in line with the provisions of the Customs and Excise Management Act (CEMA). CEMA provides that concealed goods should be seized, while Debit Note (DN) is raised to collect appropriate duties on goods which have problem of under-declaration or whose importers have under-valued.

The directive was also to warn resident customs officers against collecting settlement to allow 'bad jobs' or issue low DNs to importers.

Our Correspondent who was at the Lagos ports between Thursday and Friday observed that importers and their freight forwarders were full of lamentations following the implementation of the directive from the customs boss.

It was gathered that freight forwarders who had such problems were simply issued appropriate DNs for them to pay the correct duties if they wish to take delivery of their cargoes.

In the past, some customsmen issued lower DNs to importers, and also treated other cases of trade malpractices with what observers described as kid gloves, a development that has in turn encouraged continued fraudulent practices at the ports.

Sources close to the commands told THISDAY that the directive from the customs headquarters followed allegations from some leaders of Joint Action Committee of Freight Forwarders (JACOFF) that customsmen at the port were corrupt.

Our source said that following the allegation from JACOFF, which is allegedly seen as an instrument of attack against the customs by the Transport Minister, Alhaji Yusuf Suleiman, the customs leadership wants to prove that the architect of corruption at the ports is actually the importer and customs agents.

Already, freight forwarders who belong to different associations are bitter with JACOFF and have been trying to dissociate themselves from what they described as 'provocative statements' being sent out accusing the Customs of corruption.

Some of the freight forwarders who spoke to THISDAY under anonymity said that those behind the allegation against the customs on the issue of corruption were on their own and cannot speak for the freight forwarders. They accused leaders of JACOFF as playing the script of the Transport Minister, who is alleged to have said that the only clog in the wheel of the ports progress was the customs.

Some freight forwarders said that what JACOFF leadership did amounted to "throwing stones in a glass house where they live in".

Both customsmen and freight forwarders who were approached by our Correspondent to comment on the latest development were reluctant to do so.

A top customs official who did not want to be quoted however said: "lets know who it hurts".

Both customs boss and leaders of JACOFF had in the past been involved in allegation and counter allegation of corruption against one another in what is now seen as responsible for the current face-off at the ports.

Observers said that very soon, the latest development will lead to congestion at the port. Already, JACOFF leaders are alleged to be threatening to close down the ports.

However, there will be a meeting of elders in the industry during which an attempt will be made to pass a vote of no confidence on JACOFF as some industry observers accuse them of playing the script of the Transport Ministry.

Francis Ugwoke

This Day/09/05/2011