PAAR: Tanko Exposes Freight Forwarders, Customs Officers in Alleged Vehicle Clearance Fraud

By DAPO OLAWUNI

The Chairman 100 Percent Compliant Team of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) Alhaji Tanko Ibrahim has alleged that customs was collaborating with freight forwarders and vehicle importers to cheat the federal government of needed revenue through the manipulation of the Pre-Arrival Assessment Report (PAAR)

In an exclusive chat with DAILY TREND recently, the NAGAFF top man alleged that due to the constant jack up of PAAR from customs headquarters Abuja, most Freight Forwarders have started cutting corners by conniving with valuation officers and releasing officers to get Ex-factory price as value payable on used vehicle.

He alleged that with the connivance of customs officials, freight forwarders would describe imported batteries or imported wine as used vehicles because they don’t want to pay duty.

In a letter of complaints earlier addressed to the Customs Area Controller of Apapa Customs, dated 30th March 2022, Tanko lamented that as a result of these sharp practices, freight forwarders that have decided to remain compliant by doing the right thing are now at the losing end including government, to the tune of millions of Naira in revenue.

“We know you Sir, as a man of reputable standards, integrity and of clean records in terms of revenue collection. We beseech you therefore Sir, to use your good office to intervene in this crucial matter. You can request to re-examine every cargo whose value is based on ex-factory price. Thank you. Warm regards” he stated in the letter.

In a subsequent chat with our correspondent, Tanko reiterated that the problem freight forwarders are having today is caused by Comptroller in charge of PAAR at Customs Headquarters in Abuja.

“We are having issues with PAAR, a container carrying bottled water could be given N10million while another is given N3million, with this, customs is forcing people to falsify and manipulate.

“You would see agents declaring high duty vehicles as used vehicles, why? Even contraband, they just go to the valuation department and obtain ex-factory price.

“We that are going though the normal channel of obtaining PAAR are the ones suffering”

“If you say that the maximum CIF value on imported bottle water should be N3million, let it be so, but not that you would give one person N5million and another one N8million and even N2million.
And immediately it is issued, there is nothing you can do once it is issued.

“This is why agents are running away from PAAR and collecting ex-factory price, but we cannot run away from PAAR because nothing can make us cut corners”

“The DCG Tariff and Trade should assist us and talk to the Comptroller of PAAR, he should see us all as Nigerians, I cannot go to China to import and get different value, while another person gets lower value from same China”

“There is no benchmark on PAAR, this Present Comptroller of PAAR can decide to give you anything he likes” he said