Tin Can Port Customs resolves 87 importers’ disputes

By Uzor Odigbo
Tin Can Island Port Command of Nigeria Customs Service has cleared about 87 cases of various trade disputes with importers and their agents since the desk was set up last year.
Spokesman of the command, Uche Ejesieme, disclosed this to journalists while expressing it’s determination to continually facilitate legitimate trade in line with government ease of doing business objectives.
Ejesieme added that Controller of the Command, Abdullahi Baba Musa has demonstrated unprecedented interest in ensuring that consignments are not delayed as a Dispute Resolution Committee put in place meet regularly.
Comptroller Musa had averred that disputes emanating from valuation, classification and Pre Arrival Assesment Report (PAAR) shall be resolved within six hours.
Ejesieme said the Controller will leverage on technology, particularly enhanced automation of operation, synergy with all stakeholders and a focused emphasis on ease of doing business, to boost government revenue this year.
He added that moves will be sustained to continually prevent smuggling or duty evasion while bringing perpetrators of unlawful acts to book.
“We are committed to contributing to the Economic growth and competiveness through Trade Facilitation and Ease of Doing Business Initiative of the Federal Government, by making Customs process and procedures more efficient, to enable lower transaction cost for Business, as well as achieve competiveness in Economic productivity, growths and improving the standard of living in the Country.
“We are to provide coordinating role in Ease of Doing Business Initiative”, he stated, pointing out that as part of Trade Facilitation measures, he would assiduously work on the 48 hour Cargo Clearance Time vision.
“We have therefore deployed the ‘Time Release Studies as performance indicator to guide our performance.
“We are deploying software to handle the remaining part of the Export Procedures. It will enable records of none Oil Export, Agriculture and others.
“We shall keep blocking all revenue leakages to collect appropriate duties and meet our target of . NICIS II is an upgrade of NICIS I with more efficient and functional capabilities to enable Quick Cargo Clearances thereby reducing transaction cost