Cost Of Clearing Goods At Ports Up By 200%

Clearing agents operating in the nation’s seaports have cried out over alleged re-introduction of the controversial benchmark for all imported consignments,   saying that the introduction has hiked cost of clearing goods by 200 per cent. Customs has however claimed that the new scheme was brought back to enable the Service meet its revenue target.

National Secretary of the National Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents, NCMDLCA, Uchu Block, who disclosed this to Vanguard, explained that the re-introduction has driven up the cost of clearing goods from the ports by over 200 percent.

Block noted that items like grinded corn for the production of Noodles which costs about N5 million to clear up unti l last year, now costs about N17 million for the same item and the same quantity.

The NCMDLCA scribe pointed out that the situation is affecting clearing process at the port and worse still, there is no one to complain to. He further noted that even when there is a channel for complaint, people would not want to come forward as the delay may cost them more in terms of demurrage.

Responding to the above however, the Public Relations Officer of Tin-can Island Command of the Nigeria Customs Service, Chris Osunkwo, said that it is not true that the Service has re-introduced the contentious benchmark.

Osunkwo told Vanguard that the Service is only carrying out government directive on the issue and explained that the current duty rate is based on the international standard set by the World Customs Organisation, WCO.

In his words, “There is no iota of truth there but there is a procedure for determining value for any imported item. No body gets up and determines the value of a product, there are lay down procedures and standards for determining it.

“If what they call benchmark is the application of the standards, so be it because valuation matter is not a Nigeria Customs matter alone. It is a universal thing which was introduced by the WCO.

“As such we (Customs) must play by the rules of the game. So these are standards set by the WCO because we are a member.”

“Does Customs still charge different duties on similar goods at the various ports across the country, no, there is uniformity because we receive our directive from government based on its policy and it is this policy that determines how much the Service will collect as duty from any import into the country.

“Take for example duty on imported vehicles, there is a government policy that says collect 35 percent more on all imported vehicles and there is a government circular from the ministry of finance to that effect and that is what Customs is implementing.

“We cannot act in isolation. We cannot just wake up and jack up the value on imports. Some people criticise out of ignorance,” he noted.

- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/06/cost-clearing-goods-ports-200/#sthash.4Hi6MZ0R.dpuf

FG to Develop Six New Deep Seaports Using PPP

The Minister of Transport, Senator Idris Umar, has disclosed that the federal government had concluded arrangements to develop six new deep seaports in South-west and South-south geographical zones of the country through Public Private Partnership (PPP).

Addressing participants at the end of a two-day seminar organised by the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) and the National Judicial Institute (NJI) in Abuja, Umar underscored the development of the deep seaports as the ultimate solution to the problems hampering the development of the sector.

The other proposed deep seaports according to him, include: “The Lekki seaport in Lekki, Lagos; Ibaka seaport in Akwa Ibom State; Badagry deep seaport in Lagos; and Olokola deep seaport in Ogun and Ondo States.”

The others he added include, Agge deep seaport in Bayelsa State and Ogidigbe seaport, near Escravos in Delta State, which would serve as a hub for the gas revolution initiative of the government.

He explained that the draft business outline case for the propose six deep seaportas has been submitted to government for transaction approval after which advertisement will be made for prospective investor.

The minister stated that President Goodluck Jonathan had approved the appointment of the NSC as the interim economic regulator of the Nigerian ports pending the passage of the relevant legislation.

He said: “The appointment of the interim economic regulator was done with clear objectives which government hopes would be achieved both in the short and long terms frame, aimed at making Nigeria the hub of international freight and trade in West Africa.

In a remark, the former Head Interim of the Interim National Government, Chief Ernest Shonekan, said piracy and armed robbery at the sea are some of the unwholesome activities that are impeding the growth of the maritime industry, adding that this is giving the country a bad name in international arena.

He said: “We must realise that our new position as the leading economy in Africa places some heavy responsibilities on us as a country.

Consequently, all eyes are on us and the way we resolve some seemingly intractable problems matter to other African countries and to the whole world.”

According to him, there was need for quick dispensation of justice on issues affecting the maritime industry, adding that the onus rests on key operators in the industry and other relevant stakeholders to braze up and update themselves on the new ideas in information and technologies that are emerging.

http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/fg-to-develop-six-new-deep-seaports-using-ppp/181029/

FG To Establish Shops For Solid minerals’ Exportation

 

Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Mr Musa Sada, has said the Federal Government would soon establish solid minerals shops in the country with a view to promoting the exportation of minerals.

Speaking to the News Agency of Nigeria on Monday in Abuja, Sada said the shops would be established in collaboration with the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment.

“We will not buy the minerals as a government. The miners will work as cooperative societies; they will bring the minerals and somebody in NEPC will now take responsibility for the minerals’ marketing abroad.

“All you need is to get certification as to the type of minerals you have and the quantity you brought.

“When they sell the minerals, they will now come and give you your money. They are experts in this kind of trade.

“Anybody mining will be licenced either as a company, individual or cooperative society, and this licence specifically states the kind of minerals you are involved in,” he said.

Sada said that his ministry and the Ministry of Trade and Investment had planned to attach the mineral buying centres to the commodity exchange, adding that it would also issue minerals buying rights to some people.

He said that under this arrangement, there would be a section for agricultural products, solid minerals products, other products at the commodity exchange.

He pledged that the arrangement would be carried out in line with global best practices.

Besides, the minister said that the ministry had always participated in the trade fairs organised in Kaduna, Lagos, Enugu and Abuja to educate investors and the public on how to invest in the mining sector.

He said the ministry also encouraged its state offices to participate in all the trade fairs in the 36 states because mining was all about information.

Sada said the centre had also given information to Nigerians who wanted to invest in the mining sector.

He said the proliferation of quarries around the country had indicated that local people could produce enough gravel for contractors to buy, adding that they had made a lot of contribution to the system.

http://www.punchng.com/news/fg-to-establish-shops-for-solid-minerals-exportation/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

Nigeria To Export Ceramic Tiles – Official

Nigeria is largest manufacturer of ceramic tiles in West Africa.
The Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Musa Sada, on Monday said Nigeria had concluded plans to begin the exportation of ceramic tiles to other countries.

The minister made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja.
He said that Nigeria had hitherto abandoned the exploitation of the clay material that was being used for its production.

The minister said the country had the largest tile factories in West Africa, adding that it would begin the exportation of ceramic tiles just like it did with cement.

“We are hoping that very soon, we will make a declaration on production of ceramic tiles because all our efforts are aimed at industrial production and how to create jobs,’’ he said.

Mr. Sada said Nigeria had five privately owned ceramic tile factories, three of which were located in Lagos State, while one each was located in Cross River and Kogi respectively.

“We have the background information on clay deposits and other minerals we have to give these factories and potential investors to enhance the development of the minerals,’’ he said.

Besides, Mr. Sada said the case between the Federal Government and Global Infrastructure Nigeria Ltd, an Indian company, which bought Ajaokuta Steel Company, had been settled out of court.
He explained that the Federal Government terminated its contract with Global Infrastructure on the ground that the company lacked the requisite competence in management.

“We have about six memoranda of understanding on the various rolling mills and the training school.
“We have 40 experts from Ukraine working on rehabilitating the place and running it,” he said.

http://www.premiumtimesng.com/business/162466-nigeria-export-ceramic-tiles-official.html

Customs Begins Implementation Of Auto Policy

Even as the Port and Terminal Multiservices Limited, PTML Command of the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS began the phased implementation of the automotive policy of government, as it concerns payment of duty, clearing agents at the command has hinted that PTML risk losing more than 40, 000 stakeholders operating at the terminal.

The agent told Sunday Pilot that the Customs had commenced the implementation of the policy against the July 2014 date earlier announced in the directive of the Finance Minister, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.

Chairman of PTML Chapter of NAGAFF; Chief Goodluck Onunji in his opinion said that there are over 40, 000 operators, importers and agents included operating at PTML terminal and its shipping company; Grimaldi Shipping, and that if the auto policy is implemented, the terminal and the customs will lose customers and revenue.

According to him, the auto policy is not totally bad, but it must be given more time. Already, he said that the value issued by the PTML customs on vehicles have increased and it is now difficult for agents to make gains on transactions.

“We have over 40, 000 stakeholders at PTML and Grimaldi, they will all go out if the policy remains, we are not saying the auto policy is not good, but it must be done step by step”

“We are appealing to the Minister of Finance to please revert to the old system, many of us are already running out of jobs, and yet, up till now we have not seen any made- in-Nigeria vehicle she promised” Onunji said.

The freight forwarders including ANLCA, NAGAFF and other associations at the chapter had on Monday complained to the PTML customs on realizing that they had commenced phased implementation of the policy on vehicles.

The freight forwarders matched to the office of the Customs Area Controller, Mr. Tajudeen Olanrewaju and officially withdrew their services until the policy is reversed.

It would also be recalled that the customs had in March 2014 began phased implementation of the policy at the Apapa port. Under the arrangement, importers are expected to pay 35% duty as against the 35% duty and 35% levy specified in the auto policy.

Also, a chieftain of the PTML chapter of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders, NAGAFF, Mr. Ugochukwu Nnadi pointed out that the phased implementation will not be allowed at the command.

According to him, agents are demanding the immediate withdrawal of the policy by the customs headquarters, else, the strike will continue.

“We went to the CAC and we have told him to inform Abuja, even though we know that he is just following orders, the policy cannot work here as they do in Apapa, here is a major vehicle port, the vehicle arm of Apapa port cannot be compared to us here, they are known mainly for general cargo”

“We will not go back to work until they reverse the policy and we have made this known to the Area Controller of PTML customs” Nnadi told our correspondent.

Our correspondent confirmed at the PTML yesterday that work is yet to resume at the terminal.

- See more at: http://nigerianpilot.com/customs-begins-implementation-auto-policy

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