Barely 1-Week of VIN Valuation Implementation: Customs Headquarters Raise Alarm

…Says Freight Forwarders Flouting Valuation Codes

By DAPO OLAWUNI

The Nigeria Customs Service has raised an alarm that the 5-days old VIN Valuation policy (Vehicles Identification Number) of the service is already being flouted by freight forwarders.

At a sensitization meeting in Apapa last Thursday, the customs had said that Non-Standard VINs which has to do with accidented vehicles can only be certified by the Customs Area Controller of any command with attached photograph as evidence.

However in a circular issued on Tuesday 24th May 2020, signed by Acting Assistant Comptroller General of Customs in charge of Tariff and Trade, A. Nasir, he said the customs Headquarters
has reviewed the implementation of the VIN Valuation System and have discovered that Declarants are making their declarations using additional Code 846 without the requisite approval from the Customs Area Controllers which is in contravention of the adopted Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for the implementation of the VIN valuator.

The circular which was addressed to all Customs Area Controllers read in part “The introduction of a special procedure with additional code 846 was aimed at aiding the clearance of vehicles without standard VINs as well as Salvage and accidented vehicles.

“Furthermore, the Declarant must seek the approval of the CAC under whose Command such vehicles are to be cleared while relevant pictorial representation of such vehicles are to be attached and uploaded along with the Inspection Act to enable utilization of the procedure code.

“Consequently, I am directed to bring to your notice that the use of additional Code 846 must be authorized by the CAC, OC Valuation should issue and account for the appropriate values for such vehicles while DCs Revenue/TS are to make the relevant Inspection Act including scanned copy of such approvals available on the Nigeria Integrated Customs Information System (NICIS I).

“All releasing officers are to ensure all SGDs with additional Code 846 have the relevant Inspection Act, the scanned copy of the CACs approval attached and the relevant pictorial representation of the vehicles are attached before release”