Freight forwarders petition Presidency over import guidelines

Freight forwarders under the aegis of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), have petitioned the Presidency over the flagrant disregard for procedures and guidelines in the administration of exchange rate for Customs duty payment.

The group in a petition signed by the Secretary General, NAGAFF, Arthur Agwilo, and obtained by The Guardian, chided the authorities for ignoring a letter issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to all authorised dealers and general public with reference No. TED/FEM/FPC/GEN/01|012, dated April 30 2014, detailing import guidelines, procedures and documentation under the destination inspection scheme in Nigeria.

According to the petition, number (H) of the guideline with the heading ‘Import Duty Payment’ is very clear as to what exchange rate should be applicable for the purposes of Customs duty collection.

Quoting from the guideline, it said item one and two of the import duty payment guidelines, stated that: “Importer shall continue to pay an administrative charge of one per cent for value of all import based on the exchange rate on the approved e-form ’m’. All imports shall continue to be assessed for duty at the CIF value of the goods using the rate of exchange on the approved e-form ’M’.

“It is equally important that we draw your attention to Section 37 of the Customs and Excise Management Act (CEMA) Cap 45 LFN 2004 with the heading duty on imported goods, which the Customs is referring to in their operations at the moment.

It stated that: “Except as permitted by or under the Customs laws, no imported goods shall be delivered or removed on importation until the importer has paid to the proper officer any duty chargeable thereon, and that duty shall, in the case of goods of which entry is made, be paid on delivery of the entry to the proper officer.