‘Importers, Not Customs Decides Movement of Containers To Bonded Terminals’ – Babandede

BY FUNMI ALUKO

Babandede displaying some of the seized offensive pharmaceuticals

Amid reported widespread misconception in some quarters regarding who makes the decision for the movement of containers to bonded warehouses in the South East Zonal operation, Customs Area Controller (CAC) Onne Command, Comptroller M Babandede has clarified that such movement is only at the discretion of the owners or importers.

Comptroller Babandede who cleared the air Friday while showcasing seizures recorded by the Command said the clarification became necessary following the erroneous, prevailing belief that customs is responsible for such movement. This is even as he urged the press not only to help disseminate this information but also to be properly informed and guided, accordingly.

“In recent times the Command has observed that a lot of journalists have been asking questions related to Bonded Terminals and a large number of our journalist stakeholders are misinformed about the procedures hence the view that Containers moved to the bonded terminals are at the discretion of the Command.

The container of e-waste

“This view is erroneous, hence the need to set the record straight as well as educate our friends the press, stakeholders and the public on Bonded Terminal procedures.

“It is important to note that one of the core functions of Customs is trade facilitation which entails a streamlined and simplified technical and legal procedure in clearing items entering or leaving Nigeria. These Procedures are guides in which all Customs Officers must adhere to. The final destination for clearing of any consignment into the Country is at the owner’s or importer’s discretion, he said.

Explaining further, he said: “This cannot be altered by any customs officer including the Area Controller. Firstly the importer has to stipulate the Bonded Terminal or port that will be the final destination right at the country of exportation which is always indicated on the Bill of Laden and is transmitted via the shipping companies to the sea port which the vessel will berth.

“This negates the erroneous believe that Onne officers connive with operators of Bonded Terminals to transfer containers to Bonded Terminals.  Secondly part of the procedure stipulates that these items moving to Bonded Terminals should be on Transire/Bond which is mandatory. The third procedure is escort from Onne Port to the bonded terminal.

“These procedures are strictly adhered by the Onne Customs Command. Any infraction discovered in the course of physical examination will translate to Demand Notice in order to recover the shortfall in revenue paid or detention in our Government warehouse which will be converted to Seizure.

“It may interest our stakeholders to note that the seizures of codeine where on transire to a Bonded Terminals but due to intelligence gathered they were step-down for physical examination at the mother Port. Hence there is no hiding place for economic saboteurs in the Command. We would not only fish them out, but shall get them arrested with their goods forfeited to the Federal Government.”

Furthermore members of the press can visit or contact the Public Relations Unit of the Command for any enquire on activities and operations of the command.

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Customs Service ,Onne Command boss disclosed that the command generated total revenue of Two hundred and Forty-Nine Billion, Seven hundred and Fifty-Two Million, Two hundred and Sixty-Eight thousand, Two hundred and Ninety-Eight naira, Twenty-Eight kobo (₦249,752,268,298.28) for the month of May; and a total of Forty-Three billion, Four hundred and Thirty Million, Two hundred and Sixty Seven Thousand, Two hundred and Ten naira (₦43,430,267,210.00) as at June 21, 2024; despite workers strike and the festive holidays that stretched the weekend by two days.

According to Babandde the figure represents 40.35% of the N618 Billion annual target given to the command, and represents 50.4% of the initial N494 Billion target given to the command, until it was reviewed upward.

He expressed optimism about the capacity of the command to realize its revenue target.

“I’ll start with revenue generation. The Command was initially given a target of 494 Billion before it was reviewed two week ago to 618 Billion naira as revenue target for year 2024. As at the end of May 2024, the Command had generated a total revenue of Two hundred and Forty-Nine Billion, Seven hundred and Fifty-Two Million, Two hundred and Sixty-Eight thousand, Two hundred and Ninety-Eight naira, Twenty-Eight kobo (₦249,752,268,298.28) which translate to 50.4% of the initial target and 40.3% of the current annual target.

“When compared to the same period last year, the Command had an increase in revenue generation of One hundred and Fifty-Three billion, Two hundred and Thirteen Million, Seven hundred Thousand, Four hundred and Fifty naira, fifteen Kobo (₦153,213,700,450.15). It is worthy to note that despite the NLC strike, Democracy day and Sallah holiday, as at this morning the Command has generated Forty-Three billion, Four hundred and Thirty Million, Two hundred and Sixty Seven Thousand, Two hundred and Ten naira ₦43,430,267,210.00 in the month of June 2024.

“We look forward to continuous rise in revenue generation in the coming months and we are optimistic that we would surpass the annual target by the end of the year.”

On anti-smuggling activities, he informed that the command recorded a number of seizures of contraband items and trade goods in violation of the guidelines and laws, including a container of contraband electronics.

“We have on display six (6) seized Containers for violations or contraventions of various customs laws and breach of procedures as provided under the revised import prohibition guidelines of the Common External Tariff 2022-2026, as well as Sections 233, 234, 235, 245, 246 of Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023. Also today we have on display a seized Container of used electronics which has turned to e-waste.

“As you are aware of the environmental effect such waste pose to human lives, for the purpose of disposal we shall be working with the National Environmental Standards and Regulation Enforcement Agency (NESREA) in the spirit of inter-agency cooperation, synergy and in line with section 119 & 245 of the NCS Act 2023 to have it disposed.”

He listed the seized items to include Four (4)x20 feet containers laden with bales of clothing, lace and fabrics i.e (96 jumbo size in total) with Duty Paid Value of ₦911,520,011.00; 2×40 feet containers laden with 2,625 cartons of cough syrup codeine; and  80 cartons of Sildenatil Citrate tablets and 40 cartons of deluxe chilly cutter with Duty Paid Value of ₦2,250,654,000.00.

“The content of these importations contravenes the provision of the law which prohibits and restricts certain goods for the protection of the public health and safety.

“Put together, the total Duty Paid Value of the 7 seized containers stands at ₦3,188,454,452. Let me state here that the above seizures were made purely from intelligence gathered and information sharing with sister agency alongside 100% physical examination.”

He noted that the successes recorded in seizures were a robust collaborative effort.

“I want to also use this opportunity to thank the NDLEA for their collaboration and inter-agency cooperation as seizures of this magnitude could not have been possible without their involvement. Nevertheless, investigation is still ongoing through our Legal/Intelligent Unit to arrest the culprits and bring them to book as soon as possible.”