Manufacturers seek intervention of NCS on EEG, NDCC

The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has sought the intervention of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) in addressing lingering issues relating to the review of the Export Expansion Grant (EEG) and the non-utilisation of the Negotiable Duty Credit Certificates (NDCC).

Similarly, the manufacturers urged the NCS to address issues bordering the lingering arbitrary upliftment of FOB value, freight and insurance, smuggling of fake and counterfeit products into the country as it continues to threaten existence of local products, as well as late response to queries raised by Man members on issues being handled by the authorities of the NCS.

Speaking during a visit of the Comptroller-General of the NCS, Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali (Rtd) to MAN, recently, MAN President, Dr. Frank Jacobs, expressed the need for the Federal Government through the NCS, to intervene on the issue, adding that many processing firms are being affected due to lack of confidence in government’s agenda in boosting non-oil export.

He said: “The Comptroller-General, I believe would have been briefed on a number of issues that have been hampering the manufacturing sector and which have orchestrated the sluggish development of the sector. There is need for greater synergy between the two organisations in order to move the economy forward.

“We have handled many such issues through the formation of the MAN-Customs Forum as well as the MAN-Customs Conflict Resolution Committee which was set up to address issues surrounding the challenges emanating from the implementation of the Pre-Arrival Assessment Report (PAAR) and other port-related issues.

“However, there are certain issues that require urgent attention. We urge the Comptroller-General to give urgent attention to activities of smugglers and fakers who, without fear, utilise our seaports, decentralise the complaints unit to the six geo-political zones of the country, clarify the yardstick used by the NCS to determine Free on Board (FOB) value, freight and insurance to our members as well as address the slow pace of cargo clearing even for members on fast-track”.

He urged government to address the challenges associated with the implementation of incentives for the non-oil sector, adding that the huge cost of production in the country was impacting negatively on global competitiveness of operators in the real sector.

Comptroller-General of the NCS, Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali (Rtd) expressed commitment towards addressing the issues raised by the manufacturers, noting that the visit was embarked upon to familiarise the agency with activities of the MAN and its members.

He however urged manufacturers to comply with the due process initiated by the federal government through its agencies in order to sustain relationships with stakeholders.

According to him, the NCS is an enforcer of laws relating to tariff and issues affecting stakeholders can only be addressed when there is synergy between the parties.