The National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) has reminded its members of the consequences of engaging in cutting corners in the course of transacting their businesses at the Customs port with a view to reducing duty payable on their consignments.
Speaking in a press release issued in Lagos recently, the Founder of NAGAFF, Dr. Boniface Aniebonam disclosed that since it was obvious that the cargo throughput had drastically reduced in the customs ports leading to low collection of customs duty, the Nigeria Customs Service was not leaving any stone unturned with a view to blocking all loop-holes that may lead to revenue leakage.
While stating that it was the responsibility of the association to protect members who engaged in legitimate businesses in the customs ports and border stations, Dr. Aniebonam warned that the association may not be able to fight for and protect any agent who was not compliant to extant rules and regulations governing cargo clearance out of customs ports.
According to him,” at the moment, we could perceive that the Nigeria Customs Service may be stricter in dealing with deliberate abuse of due process in customs operations. We wish to advise that freight agents who want to have peace must now imbibe the principles of best practices. In other words, the need for genuine declarations for Customs purposes cannot be over emphasized”.
“We must emphasize that it is unprofessional and idiotic for any freight agent in the name of securing jobs to allow an importer to use his/her personal company as the consignee. This is unbelievable because of the inherent danger therein. What happens if the real importer decides to risk importation of goods which fall under absolute prohibition like firearms, cocaine, blank invoices and currency etc”.
“It is also unbelievable that a freight forwarder in the comfort of his/her office decides how much customs duty he or she will pay as if he/she is a proper customs officer to take such decisions. Without prejudice to Destination inspection guidelines as to self declaration and assessment thereto, the truth remains that such declaration must be done in utmost good faith and honesty. We must remind all practitioners that falsification of documents for customs purposes is an offense as forgery carries 7 years imprisonment”.
While observing that it had come to the association’s knowledge that some freight forwarders connive with some unscrupulous officers to inject non-existing items into customs documentation with a view to reducing appropriate duty payable, the NAGAFF boss however stated that NAGAFF was compiling the names of such officers in Abuja Pre-Arrival Assessment Report (PAAR) Ruling Centre for the attention of the Comptroller-General of Custom’s action.
He added that NAGAFF was also interested to know those freight agents who may be distorting due processes of PAAR regime with a view to submitting their names for sanction by the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN).
“However, we must advise the Nigeria Customs Service that if we must go professional in the act of freight business and Customs facilitation in Nigeria, there must be synergy between CEMA and CRFFN, the extant statutory documents of these regulatory agencies. The use of corporate bodies as licensed agents of the customs is not helping the ongoing reforms and compliance thereto in customs operations. It is apparent that practitioners are hiding under corporate contract to risk customs duty rather than being an individual liability. The CGC’s attention is hereby drawn once more to this strategic thinking and concept of ensuring best practices in the customs ports and approved border stations”.
It is the will of NAGAFF and its members to join hands with NCS in building capacity, integrity and professionalism in customs operations”, he said.
