Customs warns agents against false declaration

The Comptroller of Area 2 Command of the Nigeria Customs Service, Onne, Port Harcourt, Alhaji Muhammed Magaji, has warned licenced clearing and forwarding agents to desist from reducing the prices of their imported goods and comply with directives.

Magaji, who spoke at a stakeholders’ forum at Onne, Rivers State, said the warning became necessary because most agents were in the habit of under declaring their goods.

He said the command was given a revenue target of N120bn for the year 2014, stressing that such huge revenue could be realised if agents and importers ensured total compliance in their declaration.

He said that, henceforth, under declaring the value of imported goods would attract the full wrath of the law.

He said: “The Federal Government has given the Nigeria Customs Service a whopping target of N1.2 Trillion for the year 2014. Onne Port Command is given a target of about N120bn. We can only achieve the revenue target through your mutual cooperation by ensuring compliance in your declarations.

“Today, the invention of Pre-Arrival Assessment Report (PAAR) which replaced the Risk Assessment Report has gone a long way in facilitating trade. The PAAR has also reduced physical interaction between customs officials, importers and their agents, as most of the deals are done online in the comfort of their offices and homes.