The new Controller in charge of Apapa Area Command of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Comptroller Willy Egbudin has charged importers and agents to always give genuine declaration on their import documentation.
Egbudin while speaking with SHIPS & PORTS DAILY in his office in Lagos said when importers are transparent in their customs documentation, no officer will delay their job unnecessarily.
“If you are transparent and declare correctly what you have in your container, any officer who extorts you just let me know and such person will be dealt with. But when you are not compliant with the rules, you will be dragged on and you have yourself to blame,” he said.
While pledging to maximise revenue collection due to federal government, Egbudin said the command under his watch would only facilitate legitimate trade to ensure that the government did not lose revenue to unscrupulous importers who may not want to comply with the set rules.
He encouraged compliant freight forwarders not to be afraid of anything as long as they did the right thing, but warned that those who are not honest would have problems with the command.
On relationship with the freight forwarding associations, the Controller said he has strategized on how to develop and maintain a cordial working relationship with the freight forwarders to ensure achievement of his revenue target.
“For us to be able to generate enough revenue there must be substantial compliance level by the stakeholders. While we are not going to lose track of revenue generation, we will also ensure facilitation of legitimate trade. From time to time, I will be having meeting with the stakeholders letting them know the importance of making honest and transparent declaration,” he said.
Egbudin said head of units have also been briefed on the need for them to ensure all revenue loopholes are blocked by issuing appropriate DN when infractions are noticed even as he warned that any officer found conniving with agent to defraud the government will be disciplined appropriately.
He said, “Because we know that the trading public may not be fully compliant with the rules, there must be infractions here and there. We expect that the Deputy Controllers or Assistant Controllers in charge of all those terminals or units should be able to generate revenue in terms of intervention by DN.
“There are also sanctions for those who do contrary to the proper thing. I have told the officers if anyone connives with any agent to defraud the government or deprive the federal government of its revenue, they will not be spared. Such cases will be investigated and taken to Abuja for further action.”
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