The Command Public Relations officer (PRO), PTML Customs Command, Mr. Steve Okonmah has fingered the high exchange rate of Dollar to Naira and diversion of vehicles import to Benin Republic as reasons why the command which prides itself as the number in RORO business has suffered low level of activity in the recent time.
Speaking in an interview with Primetime Reporters in Lagos, Okonmah disclosed that in 2014 alone, a total of 126,000 units of vehicles passed through the command while the figure dropped to 66,000 in the year 2015 adding that while the command recorded about 5,000 vehicles in January 2015 whereas only a little above 2,000 was recorded in the corresponding period in 2016.
According to him,” The reason has to be first, the importation is low, whatever is the reason, you and I know that the exchange rate is high now. If you are buying that vehicle and you are bringing it in, how much are you going to sell it? And you know that a lot of people who are bringing in vehicles are one vehicle importers. How much is he going to change the Dollar, how much is he going to buy it?
“The second is that some of them claim that the clearance rate is high in Nigeria and because of that, they shift most of their cargoes to Benin Republic and it is still happening as we speak. The service is still working at confirming that, whether they are saying the truth or not but I know that since the arrival of the new CG, efforts have been put in place to make sure that from the customs side, we facilitate trade and I can beat my chest and tell you that in PTML today, you can clear your vehicle in 12 hours, come in the morning, by 5pm, you carry it. If you doubt it, bring one and make a genuine declaration”.
He informed that the development was as a result of continued sensitization of officers and the desire of the customs management led by Hameed Ali to make sure that even though the cargo throughput was low, the ones that were available should not be delayed.
On whether the command hoped to bounce back in its lead as a foremost RORO command/terminal, he replied that in that regard, there was little a customs officer could do as according to him, it was what was brought in that the customs officer would treat adding that customs officer cannot go and import.
“So, for the fact that we cannot go and import, we continue to pray that the situation will be relaxed for people to bring in their goods. Like the CGC said, he knows that cargo throughput is low but whatever kobo you are to collect for government, please make sure you collect it, let the world see that what you are collecting is commensurate to what is coming in.
“As he has not told us to go and import to meet up our targets, all that he is saying is that whatever that comes in, make sure you collect maximally and make sure you do the right thing so that there will be no leakages. And we believe, well, every January is always like this, not just January, the first quarter is always like that, we believe that by the time the new government settles down fully and certain corrections are made like they are doing here and there, things will move”, he stated.
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