Nigerian manufacturers seek Customs’ intervention on quick cargo clearance
Nigerian manufacturers have requested the intervention of the Nigeria Customs Service in the areas of seamless clearance of imports and exportation of raw materials and spare parts to boost the foreign exchange earnings.
The President of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Engineer Mansur Ahmed, made the request when he visited the Comptroller-General of Customs Col. Hameed Ali (retd) in Abuja last week.
Mansur Ahmed noted that the visit was aimed at seeking urgently the intervention of the Customs as manufacturers were experiencing hard times due to the looming global economic meltdown occasioned by Covid-19 and the Russia-Ukraine Conflict.
Mansur Ahmed cited insecurity, the decline in crude oil revenues, and lack of adequate supply of some critical goods among the reasons precipitating almost a collapse in the economy.
Noting that the Nigeria Customs Service is a critical Agency that facilitates trade, the MAN President asked the Customs to intervene in the area of classification of goods, arbitrary upliftments in freight and insurance, issuance of PAAR on Semi Knocked Down (SKD) as Fully Built Units (FBU) and proper implementation of the fiscal policy, specifically the section activating the National list under Chapter 99 of the ECOWAS Common External Tariff (CET).
According to him, this section specifically reduces import duty for verifiable investors/manufacturers importing raw materials and other inputs, to stimulate growth in critical sectors of the economy.
While expressing gratitude for the visit, the Comptroller-General of Customs Ali identified the Manufacturing Association of Nigeria as an important sector of the economy, noting that, since oil no longer sustains the economy as the viability of the manufacturing sector must be given serious attention.
He assured the visitors that the management of the Nigeria Customs Service will proffer solutions to the issues raised as they are of uttermost benefit to the ultimate growth and development of the economy.
“I have directed all Zonal Coordinators to arrange Monthly Zonal meetings with MAN at different zones of the nation for deliberations on how to help the manufacturing sector to grow,” Ali said.
The Customs boss said his management will convey an annual meeting with the manufacturing sector to further propose ways and solutions that will sustain manufacturing and promote the export of processed goods.
Source: www.portnews.com.ng
