Freight Forwarders Enjoined to Obey Import, Export Regulations

The National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders ( NAGAFF) has advised freight forwarders in the country to beware of the emergence of a new task force introduced by the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Col. Hameed Ali (RTD.) and obey import and export regulations in order not to become victims.

NAGAFF in a statement said that the task force is charged with a higher scope of responsibilities to nip in the bud any intention to cheat on government revenue and importation of banned goods.

Head of Special Duties, NAGAFF, Emma Agunbanze, in the statement, warned members against trade malpractices as the Task Force may be monitoring their activities.

The association called on members to also advise their importers to avoid any form of trade malpractices.

“Accordingly the Strike-Force has setup a forensic audit of the Nigeria Customs Service at Warehouse Road Apapa to view transactions in the Customs ports portals and approved border station. The implication is that wherein you may be making untrue declaration for Customs purposes, the strike force is viewing your activities and operations without you knowing that you are being monitored. “In our telephone conversation with a top management officer of the Service, we were made to understand that it shall no longer be business as usual wherein government is losing its rightful revenue due to leakages inherent in matters of false declarations. The Strike Force is therefore, mandated to interdict fraudulent activities before or after the transaction has been completed. The top management officer of the Service did explain that the Strike Force can only treat reasonable intelligence information received through electronic medium, Customs Intelligence Unit and even from other reliable Customs information sources,” it stated.

NAGAFF added: “However the Strike Force is not authorised to mount road blocks or remain in a particular point more than 24 hours as a striking force. They are to interdict smuggling activities and return back to their base immediately. They also have the oversight powers to pick any suspected cargo in the course of their anti- smuggling duty. On the part of the Customs officers who may have compromised to cheat the government, NAGAFF was informed that such an officer of the Service shall be investigated and where he/ she is found wanting, he/she shall be subjected to disciplinary action in accordance with civil service rules and regulations. On the part of the freight forwarders, the investigation shall reveal the extent of their involvement and shall be treated in accordance with the Customs laws including possible revocation of the operating license, if found guilty of connivance with any defaulting client.

“We were also informed of the need to educate and enlighten the importers and exporters on matters of import and export regulations. The import and export guidelines are clear and unambiguous and the role of an importer in ensuring due diligence in import regulations cannot be overemphasised. Nigerian importers are expected to retain the services of freight forwarders with all relevant import and export documents and evidence of Customs duty paid. The Service charge by the freight forwarder shall be in accordance with approved rates of the CRFFN. Accordingly it is a law that an importer/ exporter must discharge his responsibility with due diligence otherwise there should not be any excuse for him at the time of prosecution. The Customs laws are very clear as to the liability of a freight forwarder and a shipper as contained under Section 154 and 155 of CEMA 2004 as amended.”