Assures on Uniformity, Predictability, Transparency, Simplicity and Efficiency.

Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali (rtd), Comptroller General, Nigeria Customs Service.

The Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, has affirmed, very unequivocally, that  the roll out of the much talked about Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) valuation system will commence without hitches in a matter of hours across the country.

Speaking during another stakeholders meeting in Apapa to further enlighten clearing agents in particular and the public in general, Comptroller Malanta Ibrahim, Customs Area Controller of Apapa Command said the system has come to stay as Nigeria cannot afford to be left behind in embracing technology to enhance the Ease of Doing business and trade facilitation for the greater economic development of Nigeria.

Addressing agents and freight forwarders at the meeting on the adjustment made to the VIN portal to reflect reduction in tariffs, other officials of the service including Comptrollers Kunle Oloyede of Tin Can Island Port, Festus Okun of Ports Terminal Multiservices Limited (PTML) and Hammi Swomen of Kirikiri Lighter Terminal Commands harped on the need for compliance and sincere declarations by all port users.

While allaying fears expressed by users of the platform, Ibthe Apapa CAC narrated that similar objections and pessimism  were expressed during the introduction of Automated System for Customs Data (ASYCUDA) which later proved to be a success before migration to advanced technologies.

Comptroller Okun said the NCS through the VIN valuation has imbibed basic principles of taxation which includes uniformity, predictability, neutrality, simplicity and efficiency.

Oloyede described VIN as a platform for robust gathering of statistical analysis and data for national economic developmen relying on the template of accuracy that will further integrate NCS with other Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAs.

Swomen who sought more cooperation of all stakeholders added that sincere declarations without tampering with relevant information contained in the Single Goods Declaration form , SGD or mismatching information to aid quicker clearance and seamlessness of the VIN system.

Also speaking at the event, Comptroller Anthony Udenze of Tariff and Trade Department at customs headquarters urged vehicle importers and their agents to avoid acts that could delay the process of clearing.

Udenze emphasized that the process of identifying salvaged and accidented vehicles under the VIN regime will be very transparent as declarant would be expected to attach photos showing the accidented vehicles.

He stressed that for vehicles to be treated as accidented , the chassis must be affected by the accident at the front and back of the vehicle and not by removing fenders, bumpers and headlamps.

Speaking to reporters after the event said Comptroller Malata said “We are here to showcase what is going to be on board and demonstrate the workability of the system. We have done so, and they have accepted it, so definitely it is going to be a win-win situation for both the management of NCS and the stakeholders because the human element is going to be eliminated, and we are going to implement seamless, simplified and automated procedures”

While some stakeholders requested for more time Dr. Kayode Farinto, Acting National President of Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) called for sincere declaration and compliance on the part of his colleagues. He also called on Customs officers not to make things difficult. “It takes two to tangle” he said.

Farinto expressed hope that e- release which is applicable to only new vehicles could be extended to used vehicles if importers and agents increase their compliance levels.

On what to be done if and when breakdown occurs in connectivity during operations, Customs assured said electronic hitches are inevitable. They however assured that men are on ground to restore and rectify such problems anytime.