2-Years After Re-opening Seme Border, Customs Say Traders Yet to Return

…Compt Nnadi Says FG Lifted Ban On Export Prohibition List

By DAPO OLAWUNI

The Seme Border Command of the Nigeria Customs Service has lamented that two years after the Federal Government reopened the Seme Border, traders are

yet to take advantage of the reopening to kickstart import and export operations.

Customs Area Controller of Seme Customs Command, Compt Dera Nnadi at a press conference on Thursday noted that the 2022 Fiscal Policy Measures by the Federal Ministry of Finance has lifted the ban on export of goods imported into Nigeria hitherto prohibited under item 8 Schedule 6 of the Common External Tariff.

He urged traders to take advantage of the Federal Government’s exclusion of “all goods imported” from the export prohibition list.
He however lamented that traders are yet to start taking full advantage of this policy.

According to the customs, all imported goods have now been excluded from the export prohibition list, and all previously imported goods can now be re-exported upon payment of 2.5% Export surcharge of the present value, subject to approval from the Federal Ministry of Finance.

The customs has in 2022 stated that the Fiscal Policy is made up of Supplementary Protection Measures for the implementation of the ECOWAS Common External Tariff (CET) 2022-2026 and Excise duties on Non-Alcoholic beverages, Alcoholic beverages, Cigarettes & Tobacco products as well as Telecommunication Services.

On importation, the Customs chief lamented that the dearth in import is as a result of the unfriendly trade policies introduced by the Republic of Benin which is affecting transit cargoes bound for Nigeria.

Speaking, Compt Nnadi said “It is important to note that the 2022 fiscal Policy Measures by the Federal Ministry of Finance lifted the ban on export of goods imported into Nigeria hitherto prohibited under item 8 Schedule 6 of the Common External Tariff.

“However, this is subject to the exporters obtaining approval from the Federal Ministry of Finance. Budget and National Planning and payment of 2.5 per cent export surcharge of the present value of the goods.

“The traders are yet to take full advantage of this gesture and we call on them to optimize the opportunities offered by the policy.

“It is worthy of note that the major source of revenue of the Command (import/export) have not been enhanced since the opening of the land Borders as directed by the Federal Government of Nigeria as the traders are still bracing with the challenges of having been out of business for over two years”

Compt Nnadi who took over the command 13-days ago said that in the period under review, the Command re-ordered only 5 declarations of import within this period with a total of N13, 383,104 paid as duty.

“The dearth in import is as a result of the trade policy introduced i Republic of Benin which traders and indeed the Service consider hostile to Nigeria” he lamented

On export, he said “122 trucks bearing 3,770.49 metric tons of made in Nigeria cargo with Free On Board value of N523.660,496.80 kobo and National Export Supervision Scheme Fees of N2,618,302.10 were recorded.

On ETLS, he said 70 Trucks with fees amounting to N1,414, 665.0 collected in the period under review.

On baggage declarations, he said “There were 81 baggage declarations with duty amounting to N 4, 520, 722. The items imported under this arrangement include food products and beverages produced within the sub-region.