There are strong indications that the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Alhaji Dikko Abdullahi, may visit some Lagos-based Customs commands next week.
According to a reliable source, the Customs CG is visiting to sensitise stakeholders on the implementation of the Pre-Arrival Assessment Report (PAAR), the new import risk assessment platform expected to become operational next month.
PAAR replaces the Risk Assessment Report (RAR) currently used by the three destination inspection service providers. Customs is expected to take over full implementation of installed scanning machines and the destination inspection scheme from December 1 but discard the RAR platform for PAAR.
National President of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), Eugene Nweke, last week criticised the NCS for not embarking on adequate stakeholder sensitisation on the introduction of PAAR.
Meanwhile, the Founder of NAGAFF, Dr. Bomiface Aniebonam, has urged the Federal Government to review the current policy on rice.
He said the policy, which imposed 10 per cent duty and 100 per cent surcharge on imported rice, has impacted negatively on Customs revenue.
He said: “The Apapa Area One Command of Customs is a good example because Apapa being the place where ships berth have made rice imported through the port their main source of revenue but because of the government policy now, importers divert their ships to neighbouring countries and smuggle them through land borders. So the money that is supposed to come to Nigeria go to neighbouring countries. Also, because rice is a food for every Nigerian, it is in high demand but I will advise the federal government to always proffer alternatives before taking decisions that will affect the country’s economy.”
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