Despite It’s Modernisation, Customs Retrogressed Into Use of 1971 Mode of Vehicle Clearance

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Even though the Nigeria Customs Service operations and procedures has since witinessed series of modernization and it is even looking forward to e-custom, the service has announced that it is returning to the jet age of production of logbook by importers before vehicles can be cleared from the port.

Stakeholders reaction have continued to trail the Customs since this announcement, even as they said the policy is a self indictment on the Customs modernization drives and makes the amount invested so far as a deliberate waste of the tax payers money.

The Customs announced this in a circular with reference numbers; NCS/T&T/DCG/HQ/S.52 signed on 23rd of April 2021 by the Deputy Comptroller General of Customs Tariff and Trade, DCG Isa Talatu.

According to Customs, the directive was in consonance with the provisions of the Customs and Excise Notice No. 30 of 6th December, 1971.

DAILY TREND NEWS findings showed that Vehicle Logbook wayback in 1970’s was the main instrument to determine accurate Customs duty either by 10% depreciation or appreciation based purely on year of manufacture of vehicle.

The use of logbook also thrived up to the year 1995 to 2000 following the appointment of the PIDA and subsequently PSIA’s.

In the customs circular titled “T&T/2021/Circular No.08 Vehicle Logbook as a Mandatory Requirement for Clearance of Used Motor Vehicles” the Customs said the production of vehicle log book is now a mandatory requirement for clearance of imported used vehicles out of the ports.

It however added that a grace period of 90 days effective from the date of the circular was allowed to enable all importers who must have entered into trade transactions before the circular process and clear their vehicles.

The circular reads, “I am directed to refer to the above subject matter and to convey that log-book is now a mandatory requirement for the importation of any used motor vehicle into the country. This is in consonance with the provisions of Customs & Excise Notice No. 30 of 6th December, 1971.

“Consequently, a grace period of 90 days effective from the day of this circular is allowed to enable all importers who must have entered into trade transactions before this circular process and clear their vehicles.

“For the purpose of emphasis, importation of used motor vehicles requires the production of vehicle log book in addition to other clearance documents after the grace period”

Meanwhile freight forwarders and importers have expressed shock at the latest introduction of logbook by the Customs.

On the Freight Forwarders Practitioners Platform monitored by our correspondent, the stakeholders wondered why a modern Nigeria Custom Service that have undergone decades of training and retraining series and changes in conformity with WCO is suddenly coming such an archaic circular.

“This speaks volumes of our level of retrogration to STONE AGE as a Nation and a laughing stock amongst committee of NATIONS UNDER WCO & WTO”

“This is coming when most Maritime Nations must have gone paperless with E-Custom and may worsen brazen alerts and extortion accross ports and border stations” one of them said

Another stakeholders said “It is disheartening that NCS at this time in our history is trying to make vehicle log book a prerequisite for vehicle clearance, citing a 1971 circular. Very shameful”

“We must understand that the government at all levels are not standing with us, the masses. They would rather impoverish us and treat us with levity and ignominy. This is where the trade associations and pressure groups come in to protect their members. We have failed woefully in this regard. Pity!

“The police man on the road insists on engine number when the world has progressed to the point where the VIN number has every detail about the vehicle. Their insistence is premised on the fact that in doing the absurd, it is a lot easier to harass you as a citizen and oppress you with their raw power, not necessarily authority. In doing so too they bring you down to their debased levels. I see the customs issue from the same prism”

“I personally think that this issues under discussion and similar ones are not borne out of economic/ trade facilitation considerations but are mainly political however veiled they may appear. If you know you know is becoming a popular cliche these days”

“Let us begin to think more of how we can resist the machinations of the political class using our associations as platforms. Worse things are lurking on the road to the Future” he said

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