L-R: Chief Timothy Okorocha, Comptroller Ben Oramalugo, CAC, Oyo/Osun Command ,Dr Charles Okorefe, of the Maritime University , Delta State, Prince Olayiwola Shittu at the League of Maritime Editors 25 years Anniversary, which held in Lagos.
BY GODWIN OBI/ CHIGOZIE EZEH
The Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) has clarified that henceforth importers who engage in deliberate violations in the process of duty payment, now risk six months jail term, among other harsher penalties, while customs officers, are now also to face stiffer penalties .
The Customs said the stiffer punishments are contained in the new Customs and Excise Management Act (CEMA). While the provisions are contrary to the view in certain quarters that the Service only punishes importers and customs agents ,when they collude with officers to commit deliberate breches , ranging from under payment of import duty , among other infractions, while on official duty.
The Customs Comptroller General, Wale Bashir Adeniyi made the disclosure through the Controller of the Tin Can Island Command , Comptroller Dera Nnadi , at the 25th anniversary celebrations of the League of Maritime Editors (LOME), which held in Lagos.
L-R: Director of Press, Ministry of Marine And Blue Economy, Olujimi Oyetomi And the Area Conroller, Tin Can Customs command, Dera Nnadi ‘mni’
Comptroller Nnadi had clarified that the service has procedures for punishing its officers, who contradict the provisions of the CEMA
Speaking on the additional efforts that have been made by the Customs over the years, to discourage importers and agents from under paying import duty as well as punish infractions committed by them, he said the punishment for such anomaly used to be N600, 000,due to the fact that the volume of goods being imported then was low.
He however explained that the current CEMA , apart from the additional duty the importer is expected to pay, as dictated by the Demand Notice( DN), the importer is also expected to pay 25 per cent of the duty to be charged on the goods, on which ,duty has been under paid, as penalty.
DIRECTOR OF PRESS, MINISTRY OF MARINE AND BLUE ECONOMY, OLUJIMI OYETOMI PRESENTING AWARD TO REPRESENTATIVE OF DANGOTE INDUSTRIES LTD
Nnadi said that as part of measures to increase compliance in duty payment, the new CEMA has stipulated that any importer who under pays import duty , in addition to the existing penalties have to pay a N2 million flat rate , as well as risk going to jail for six months , if he’s unable to prove that he did not intentionally commit the offence.
His assertion on behalf of the CG, was specifically in response to an accusation at the event , to the effect that the new Customs Management Act(CEMA), did not prescribe any punishment for its officers , despite that it has harsher penalties in the new CEMA, for importers and freight forwarders, when they engage in infractions.
Nnadi disclosed that , there is the Customs Legal Notice , the Legal Code among others , through which , appropriate penalties are meted out to erring officers.
CUSTOMS AREA CONTROLLER OF OYO/OSU COMMAND, COMPTROLLER ORAMALUGO CLAD BY THE LOME PRESIDENT, CHIEF TIMOTHY OKOROCHA, GODWIN OBI AND FRANCIS UGWOKE (LT) EDIE IROHA AND FELIX KUMUYI (RT)
According to the Tin Can Command Controller, the Customs even has a disciplinary Committee, which he was a member ,for eight years, at the Service’s headquarters, and through which officers and men who commit infractions, are penalised , if found guilty having being given the opportunity to defend themselves.
Nnadi said that in the process of penalising erring officers , and men, some of them have been relieved of their appointment , while some of them have been demoted in rank.
THE DIRECTOR OF PRESS, FEDERAL MINISTRY OF MARINE AND BLUE ECONOMY, MR. OLUJIMI OYETOMI PRESENTING lEAGUE’S CORPORATE AWARD TO THE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE NIGERIAN SHIPPERS’ COUNCIL, MRS. REBECCA
On the issue of the depreciation in the value of the naira ,as against the in the exchange rate and value of the dollar , used in calculating the import duty to be paid on goods, which he said it is now about N900 to the dollar , he explained that it is not the duty of the Customs to fix exchange rate , but that its responsibility lies in implementing government fiscal policies.
The Controller however pointed out that Customs will continue to up its game and improve on its level of service delivery to ensure that it speeds up clearing of goods , facilitates trade and support the Marine and economy Ministry to fulfill its mandate. .
Dr Charles Okerefe of The Maritime University, Okerenkoko, also spoke on the second theme of the Anniversary seminar, “Harnessing Nigeria’s Potentials in Marine and Blue Economy”’ .
MEMBERS OF THE LEAGUE HERE BREAKING THE ANNIVERSARY CAKE WITH THE DIRECTOR OF PRESS, FEDERAL MINISTRY OF MARINE AND BLUE ECONOMY, MR. OLUJIMI IN ROYAL BLUE APPAREL
The President of the League who gave the welcome address called for the disbursement of the long awaited Cabotage Vessel Finance Fund (CVFF), as well as the rehabilitation of the decaying infrastructure of the Nigerian Ports , and the participation of the agencies in the activities of the Marine and Blue Economy Ministry to make it achieve its mandate, among others.
The Minister of Marine and Blue economy, Adegboyega Oyetola represented by the Director of Public Relations , in the Ministry, Mr Olujimi Oyetomi was the Special Guest of Honor at the event. The Guests of Honours at the event include , the NPA MD, Muhammed Bello Koko, ES/CEO of the Nigerian Shippers Council, Barrister Pius Akutah, the immediate past President of the ANLCA, Prince Olayiwola Shittu and the MD ,Five Stars Logistics/ Comet Shipping, Mr P.L Carrodano.
Stake holders who received awards at the event to mark the anniversary include, Alhaji Aliko Dangote; Mrs Magdalene Ajani, PS of the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy ; ENL Consortium Limited; Customs CG, Wale Adeniyi; Alhaji Aminu Umar, MD, Coastal Trade , Mr Carrodano and Prince Olayiwola Shittu.
Others include ACG Alajogun, ACG , Customs Hqtrs; Comptroller Ben Oramalugo, Controller, Oyo/ Osun Command; Comptroller Nnadi, Comptroller Jide Jaiyeoba; DC Kehinde Ejibunu, Ag. Controller FOU , Zone ‘A’ and DC Kayode Kolade, Ag. Controller, FOU, Zone C.
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