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Operators in the maritime industry have frowned at the recent order by the Federal Government stopping cross examination of goods at the exit gate.
The operators under the aegis of Customs Licensed Agents / Importers Transparency Group, headed by Chief Gabriel Omenukor told the Maritime and Energy Media Practitioners of Nigeria (MEMPON) that the order to stop cross examination of goods at the Customs· exit – gate, will jeopardize government’s purpose for thorough examination of goods at the Port.
The group noted that the Federal Government’s desire to promote the ease of doing business at the port does not require the stoppage of cross-examination at the Customs exit gate, stressing that further examination of goods at the gate has done more good than harm to the operations of the Nigeria Customs in the area of revenue generation.
They said that there had been several interceptions of goods not properly documented by the Customs at the exit gate, some of which were being moved with fake documents “in connivance with some operatives of some stakeholders at the terminals.”
Leader of the Customs agents/importers transparency group, Chief Omenukor, maintained that by keying into the government’s mandate on the ease of doing business at the port, proper documentation procedures and adequate security of goods should be maintained as the new order will create more loopholes for fraud and loss of government revenue.
He further emphasized that intelligent report from the nation’s ports, borders and stations, majority of goods involving wrong declarations, undervaluation and concealment are being detected and intercepted by men of the Nigeria Customs Service at the Customs exit gates.
The group however cautioned on the need to maintain the status-quo in other to avoid movement of prohibited items including arms and ammunition out of the Nigeria ports, pointing at the tensed security situation in the country, while adding that promoting the ease of doing business can be further actualized through the installation of scanners.
