Customs VIN Valuation Fails to Fly as Planned

By DAPO OLAWUNI

Even though the Nigeria Customs Service had announced plans to flag off the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) by Friday, fresh indications have emerged that the scheme is yet to commence as planned.

Checks by DAILY TREND on Sunday showed that the VIN Valuation have not yet commence, and everything on the Nigeria Customs Service systems remains the same.

Recall that the service had carried out a sensitization meeting for stakeholders on Thursday, in anticipation of the eventual flag off of the VIN Valuation on Friday.

According to the Secretary of Tin Can Island Port chapter of Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) Barrister Michael Ovien, as at Sunday May 22nd 2022, the
NICIS 2 Platform was still requesting for Valuation Assessment Reference and Date for it to be Scanned and Attached.

In a message he circulated to members online, he said “No Artificial Intelligence or VIN Value are yet in the system.

“According to the ACG T&T and Comptroller Valuation at the Thursday Meeting at Apapa Command with the stakeholders, he said that the VIN Valuation will commence on Saturday 21/05/2022′

“The NICIS Platform remains the same. Let us wait and continue to observe the system patiently till tomorrow, if there is a change of date for the commencement because no circular have be issued to this event by NCS HQ” he said

The VIN valuation was first introduced about two months ago, but it was greeted with uproar from the freight forwarders who described the policy as inhuman and unrealistic due to the high values imposed on vehicles, and the lack of consideration for rebate on accidented and used vehicles.

This led to the suspension of the system by the customs authority which thereafter reworked and improved the policy by accommodating the observations and grievances of freight forwarders.

In their various reactions at the Thursday meeting, freight forwarders expressed divergent views.

While majority of them expressed their support and acceptance of the VIN Valuation platform, some of them kicked against the value payment attached to the system.

They also kicked against the sudden rush at which customs wants to kick-start implementation, arguing that they needed time to digest properly the various provisions in the new policy.