Customs clearance process at the Ports and Terminal Multi-Services Limited (PTML), one of the major vehicular ports in Lagos have not been favorable for clearing agents operating at the terminal since the recent tariff increase on imported vehicles.
Chairman, National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) PTML Chapter, Cosmas Ndimkora, said that the disposition of officers of the PTML Area command have been unfriendly towards agents since the new tariff increase on imported vehicles.
Ndimkora told SHIPS& PORTS DAILY that valuation officers of the command have not been operating with what he called “human face”.
He said: “What we are facing now is unfriendly customs attitude from valuation officers since they introduced the new tariff on cars. The officers are not considerate. If you go to Tin Can Command there is this element of human kindness by the officers there who will put one and two into consideration but in PTML it is just official. Everything one does they will just run to consult their schedule.”
In a swift reaction, the command’s Public Relations Officer, Chief Superintendent of Customs Steve Okonmah however said that valuation officers attached to the command are only following due process by working with the new tariff.
He said the officers do not have authority to issue any value other than what the new vehicle tariff by the federal government stipulates.
He said officers should be the ones complaining as the agents often times try to short change government by paying less value than required by law.
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