Nigeria Customs still adopting physical examination as cargo scanners idle away - Report – Newstrends
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Nigeria Customs still adopting physical examination as cargo scanners idle away – Report

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Officials of the Nigeria Customs Service are still glued wholly to physical examination of cargos at the seaports, despite the acquisition and deployment of scanners to the Apapa, Tin-Can Island, Lagos and Onne seaports Port Harcourt by the Federal Government.

The scanners are meant to speed up cargo inspection and quicken evacuation of imported cargoes from the seaports but the equipment has remained non-functional at the various entry points into the country.

Maritime experts say such physical examination by the NCS and other government agencies involved has increased the cargo dwell time by over 100 per cent.

For instance, while about 50 containers are physically examined at the Apapa port daily and 60 examined daily at Tin-can Island port presently, about 150 containers could be examined with the use of one scanner at Apapa and the number could double should both scanners be operational.

Leadership reports that the expectations that the deployment of scanners would bring a positive shift in cargo clearance, eliminate delays and enhance timely delivery of cargo to owners by clearing agents had been dashed.

It says with 100 per cent physical examination, importers incur huge demurrage charges from shipping companies and storage charges from terminal operators.

The Chairman of the Nigerian Port Consultative Forum (NPCF), Kunle Folarin, was quoted as saying the burden of the demurrage incurred by importers or consignees due to the lack of scanners at the ports would be passed to the consumer, which would create another level of inflation in the economy.

He said while Customs had settled for 100 per cent physical examination and inspection of cargoes, they would sabotage all efforts at ensuring scanners arrive and are installed at the ports due to the huge money they get illegally.

President of the Shippers Association of Lagos (SALS), Rev. Jonathan Nicol, said Nigeria was losing over N800 billion monthly due to lack of 24-hour seaport operation and about N9.6 trillion lost in a year.

According to Nicol, the port is a money-spinning machine, as payments are daily made to shipping companies, terminal operators, customs, transporters, Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) in the ports.

-Report largely from Leadership

Maritime

Tinubu names ex-LAMATA boss as new NIMASA DG

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Tinubu names ex-LAMATA boss as new NIMASA DG

President Bola Tinubu has named Dr Dayo Mobereola as the director-general of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).

This came after the exit of Dr Bashir Jamoh, whose tenure recently expired.

The announcement is contained in a statement issued Tuesday night by Ajuri Ngelale, special adviser to the president on media and publicity.

The statement said, “Dr Mobereola holds a Ph.D, and an M.Sc in Transport Economics from the University of Wales, United Kingdom. He is a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Transport, England, and a fellow of the same institute in Nigeria.”

“He was the Managing Director of Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) from 2003 to 2015 and was also the Commissioner for Transportation in Lagos State from 2015 to 2016.

“In the private sector, he was Deputy Managing Director and Project Development Director at AFM Consulting Plc, London. He was also Senior Economist at British Petroleum Shipping Limited, London.”

The special adviser said Tinubu expects Mobereola to bring his vast experience to bear in his new role under the leadership of Adegboyega Oyetola, minister of marine and blue economy.

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Maritime

NIMASA DG Jamoh tenure expires, Offodile takes charge

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NIMASA DG Jamoh tenure expires, Offodile takes charge

 

Outgoing Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr Bashir Jamoh, has handed over the affairs of the agency to Executive Director, Finance and Administration, Chudi Offodile.

This is after the expiration of Jamoh’s tenure on March 10, 2024.

A statement signed by NIMASA spokesman, Edward Osagie, said the outgoing NIMASA DG expressed gratitude to the Federal Government for giving him the opportunity to serve in the capacity and urged the next leadership of the agency to consolidate on the gains of the past four years.

“I wish to express gratitude to Almighty Allah and the Federal Government for the privilege given me to serve Nigeria in this capacity, as I count myself a privileged Nigerian to have occupied this position, while also contributing my quota to the Nigerian maritime sector.

“Let me also use this opportunity to assure the staff of the agency that wherever I am, I will still remain a part of this family; a place I have spent the active 30 years of my life,” Jamoh said.

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Customs give 90-day grace to clear improperly-imported vehicles

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Customs give 90-day grace to clear improperly-imported vehicles

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has granted a 90-day window for those who improperly imported vehicles into the country to clear them.

Spokesman for the NCS Mr. Abdullahi Maiwada announced this in a statement on Sunday.

The new window, he said, was in line with a directive of the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun.

Maiwada said, “This initiative applies solely to vehicles imported into Nigeria where the requisite customs duty has not been fulfilled or vehicles detained due to undervaluation.

“While we strive for inclusivity, it is important to clarify that vehicles seized and condemned will not be released under this arrangement and shall be forfeited to the Federal Government in accordance with extant regulations.

“All vehicle owners, Importers/agents seeking to regularise import duties on their vehicles are required to apply to the Zonal Coordinators (Zones A, B, C, D) and CAC FCT Command.

“They must submit the necessary available documents and process Vreg in line with the Federal Ministry of Finance directives for the registration of imported motor vehicles.

“Valuation and assessment of the vehicles will be carried out using the VIN valuation method.”

For the affected vehicles, he said that Import Duty and a 25% penalty shall be paid in tandem with the import guidelines, procedures, and documentation requirements for used vehicles under the Destination Inspection Scheme in Nigeria (2013) and the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023.

In addition, the spokesman said duty payments must be made using the Procedure Code specifically created for this exercise.

He said, “This initiative reflects our unwavering commitment to facilitating compliance. We encourage all stakeholders to capitalize on this opportunity within the stipulated timeframe.”

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