Anxiety As Customs VIN Platform Collapses, Freight Forwarders Allege Manipulation, Extortion

By DAPO OLAWUNI

There is palpable anxiety at the Tin Can Island Port and the PTML Port, the two major vehicle importing ports in Lagos, following the reported collapse of the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) valuation platform of the Nigeria Customs Service.

Scores of freight forwarders who spoke with DAILY TREND in Lagos on Monday alleged that the VIN Platform of the customs has collapsed and that they have been unable to capture vehicles since last week Wednesday.

Speaking with our correspondent, Mr Timothy Adebowale lamented that the Standard VIN chasis of the customs is now rejecting vehicles and referring them back to the 846 code which is meant for non-standard VIN.

Adebowale alleged that the non-standard VIN gives room for manipulation from customs officers and that it defeats the very essence of creating the VIN Platform. He said that for the past five working days, demurrages have been piling up because vehicles cannot be cleared.

“Since last week Wednesday, we have been unable to capture vehicles on the standard VIN, every time we attempted doing that, the system is directing us back to the 846 which is for non-standard VIN.

“As I am speaking with you now, demurrages are piling up because more vessels are coming into the port and discharging vehicles but we cannot clear them out of the port.

“The customs has destroyed the VIN Platform, thereby directing us to use the 846 which creates room for extortion and negotiations with customs officers.

“We have complained to the customs, they are aware of this challenge since last week, but they have no concrete solutions or reply to give to us.

“I have vehicles of 2014 and 2015 that are within the years and age limit recommended by the law, yet the system is directing us back to nonstandard VIN.

“This challenge is happening at all the ports that handle vehicles” he said

Speaking with journalists recently, frontline customs broker and Chief Executive Officer of Wealthy Honey Nigeria Limited, Dr Kayode Farinto had also lamented irregularities in the operations of the customs VIN Platform.

Dr Farinto lamented that VIN Platform, especially the nonstandard VIN, is being manipulated by customs officials and this is frustrating operations at the port.

He also raised an alarm on the fact that customs was manipulating the age limit policy on imported vehicles, adding that all vehicles are now made to pay a value of year 2013, even though the law allows for a 2011 vehicle to be imported.

“The challenge is that customs is not being sincere, we have the standard chasis and the non standard chasis. For the standard chasis, people have cued in, but for the non standard chasis, it is being manipulated, and customs officers are encouraging people to manipulate it.

“The unfortunate thing is that the import policy of the federal government on imported vehicles us 12years age limit, but if you look at the Nigeria Customs Service system and data, the minimum value for vehicles you can see is 2013, what happens to vehicles of 2011?

“So, if you have a vehicle of 2011 now, you would be forced to get a value of 2013, who suffers it? These are the things that discourage the importers. Meanwhile our neighboring port of Cotonou is bringing down their rates on daily basis.

“For twelve years, 2011 vehicles supposed to come in.
I have written letters to the CG of customs, telling him that what he is doing is extorting Nigerians and discouraging them from carryout importation, whether you like it or not, ships coming with vehicles are diverted to Cotonou Port and the vehicles would still find their way into the country through unapproved routes.

“VIN valuation is a lofty idea but it’s implemention has been distorted by the Nigeria Customs Service.

“Inconsistency in policies and exchange rate is killing Nigeria economy. The CBN changes the exchange rate without talking to anybody and this is killing our trade.
We need to separate the role of the CBN from that of the customs” he said

He called for the appointment of a special assistance to the President on maritime affairs, adding that during the tenure of Goodluck Jonathan, maritime stakeholders had a robust interaction with the Presidency through appointment of Mr Leke Oyewole.

Efforts to get clarification from the Tin Can customs command proved abortive as the spokesperson did not respond to calls and messages.

However, the spokesman for the PTML Command, Mr Yakubu Mohammed was able to explain to DAILY TREND that there was a general hitch on the VIN Platform last week Wednesday and Thursday and that the challenges have since been rectified.

“We had a network problem last week Wednesday and it was all round, it was not at PTML Command alone, the network was a little bit faulty but we have rectified that. It was just on Wednesday and Thursday that we had that issue. It was beyond our control, this is a digital issue and once in a while there is bound to be network Issues

“But for the freight forwarders to say that they are still unable to capture vehicles up till Monday, that is not true. We have been able to capture vehicles on Friday and Monday.

Yakubu urged all freight forwarders still experiencing challenges with their nonstandard VIN to approach the customs office to lay their complaints and for assistance.

The customs Spokesman also alleged that a lot of freight forwarders are hell bent on manipulating the VIN Platform.

“Some of them have the standard VIN, but they usually run away from it, they run to the 846. If you are doing that, the system would not accept it, unless you tamper with the VIN code and duty rate.
We have people like that and they would keep on complaining, they don’t want to pay money for the standard VIN” he stated