South East traders reject hike in Customs duties

 

. Customs intercepts N71m meant for laundering in Katsina

 

COSMAS CHUKWU, Enugu

 

Traders in the South East under the aegis of SEAMATA, has strongly criticised and rejected the recent astronomical and indiscriminate increment in the import duty on cargoes charged by Nigeria Customs Service

 

SEAMATA is the umbrella union of traders in all the markets in the South-East geo-political zone and traders of South-East extraction doing business across the states in the Federation and in Diaspora.

 

This is contained in a statement jointly signed by SEAMATA’s President General, Chief Gozie Akudolu and its Secretary General, Mr Alex Okwudiri, in Enugu on Monday.

 

It said that the Nigeria Customs introduced a method of working out import duty payment on goods and set out a particular minimum amount payable for each 40ft container.

 

The statement noted that items with the least percentage tariff of five per cent are not even spared.

 

According to the statement, current import duties are no longer calculated based on invoice value of consignments.

 

The statement reads in part: “Between 2020 and now, the amount charged on cargoes as import duties have risen in geometric proportion from N750,000 to N2 million, again to N3 million and presently, to N3.3 million for 40ft containers; while 20ft containers jumped to N1.8 million.

 

 

“The Nigeria Customs on their own, work out payable import duty now based on “estimated” invoice value of consignment as against the actual invoice value of goods from the country of origin.

 

“This development is not only bringing untold hardships to importers but is also compounding the pains of the citizens as it dovetailed to astronomical increase in prices of imported goods as the Nigerian Customs estimated invoice value is always far above the actual cost of the imports.

 

“The indiscriminate estimate of value of goods by Nigerian Customs is adversely affecting the prices of goods in the markets today both imported and locally produced as it triggered a chain reaction.

 

“Even agricultural products are not spared in the chain effect of the price increase.

 

“In  the general meeting held in Onitsha on Wednesday, Nov. 24, 2021, the traders resolved to very strongly condemn and reject the increment.

 

“We are appealing to the Hon.Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning to prevail on the Nigeria Customs to, as a matter of urgency, suspend the exercise.

 

“This is to save the Nigerian citizens from further economic hardships as further economic pains that follow such situations could lead to social unrest which our nation doesn’t need now”.

 

The statement also prayed and expected that the appeal of the traders would be favourably considered”

in another development, The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) in Katsina State says it has intercepted a vehicle loaded with more than N71 million suspected to be for laundering.

 

Acting Controller at the command, Alhaji Dalhat Wada-Chedi, told newsmen in Katsina on Monday that the money was intercepted earlier in the month.

 

“We intercepted the money with the vehicle and also arrested the driver of the vehicle along Katsina-Jibia axis which is among the frontline areas affected by insecurity.

 

“This money was intercepted along the border area inside the booth of a Toyota Corolla vehicle following intensified effort of our operatives along that axis.

 

“As you know, the borders are still closed, and any person passing through the border must declare money above 10,000 dollars.

 

“We brought the money, the suspect and the vehicle, and we deposited the money at the CBN after we reported to our headquarters.

 

“We have offered an administrative bail to the suspect because investigation is still on-going; in fact we have transferred the case to the headquarters.’’ he said.

 

Wada-Chedi also told newsmen that the command also intercepted 230 parcels of Indian hemp worth more than N18.1 million in November.

 

“The Indian hemp was intercepted in a truck and the total value of Indian hemp and truck is N25.9 million,’’ he said.

 

He added that the command intercepted eight vehicles with the total value of N14.4 million also in November.

 

Smuggled rice, spaghetti, vegetable oil, potash and medicaments were also seized by the command in the course of November, he said.

 

“We also intercepted cartons of foreign milk creamer, kegs and sacks of petroleum products, diesel, second hand clothes and baby clothes.

 

“Also, pieces of three different types of jack knives and bags of tiger nuts with total value of N46.5 million were seized in November,’’ he said.

 

“Within the month of November, we succeeded in arresting five suspects and different items worth over N176.4 million,’’ Wada-Chedi added.

 

He attributed the successes to the tireless efforts of the command and its operatives and called on members of the public to continue to give them the necessary support. (NAN)