The Customs Area Controller, Seme Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Comptroller Victor Dimka has urged the business community to make use of the Owode outstation in clearing their goods through the Passengers Baggage Examinations System (PEBES).
Dimka according to a press release issued in Lagos by the Command’s Public Relations Officer (PRO), Mr. Selechang Taupyen had on assumption of duty at the Seme command visited Owode Outstation where he inaugurated a committee among his management team to visit the outstation for on the spot assessment and report back to him the state of facilities and recommend ways the outstation could be resuscitated to be in full operation.
According to Taupyen, the Area Controller disclosed that for the command to work strictly in compliance to the service’s stipulated guidelines and procedures (codes and legal notices), approved outstations along the international border with the needed facilities had to be resuscitated to work in line with the global best practices.
“It could be recalled that the resolute stand of the Customs Area Controller to the strict implementation of the service extant laws has led the Owode business community to visit the Comptroller requesting for duty payment to all their legitimate transactions. “Having fortified all the illegal routes, Owode border which is an approved border outstation under Seme Area Command is now open as a full-fledged outstation that can handle clearance of goods through the Passengers Baggage Examination System (PEBES). “The Customs Area Controller has resuscitated the Automated System of Customs Data (ASYCUDA) that was not in operation for quite a long period of time before now. “Financial institutions like the Skye Bank of Nig. Plc have sited their mini-branch for collection of duty on any import assessment through the outstation. “Compt. Dimka informed all businessmen that use Owode route and the business community to take advantage of this official gesture and desist from perpetrating trans-border crimes like smuggling and other ills associated with a border town. He re-iterated that he is in Seme to discourage illegal transactions, encourage illegitimate trade and generate maximum revenue to the Federal government. “The public is hereby informed that goods that are properly documented, assessed, valued and duty paid, the release of such goods will be effected at the outstation. Some of these goods includes; imported-rice, fairly used vehicles, coconuts and sport wares .However, it is important to note that goods that fall under PAAR cannot be cleared through Owode outstation”, he said. Send your news, press releases/articles to info@primetimereporters.com. Also, follow us on Twitter @reportersinfo and on Facebook at facebook.com/primetimereporters or call the editor on 07030661526. |