CBN encouraging importers to make false declarations of cargoes — ANLCA

Kayode Farinto

The Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) has accused the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) of encouraging importers to make false declarations during cargo examination with the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS).

Speaking to Nigerian Tribune in his office in Lagos, the National Vice President of ANLCA, Dr. Kayode Farinto explained that policies implemented at the ports by the CBN force cargo owners to make false declarations during customs examination of cargoes.

According to the ANLCA Deputy President, “Recently, when we went to the House of Representative, we told the lawmakers that there is need to invite the CBN and the Minister of Finance over issues bothering on importation of cargoes.

“If you look at what is happening at the ports, how can 69 commodities be placed on forex prohibition list by the CBN? Many importers do not want to make false declarations, but because they cannot open Form M for a commodity that is not on prohibition, they are forced to make false declarations. For importers to open Form M for such commodities, they will have to call the cargo another name, which is the beginning of false declaration.

“The lawmakers have promised us that they are still going to invite us back to the House where we will face the CBN and the Ministry of Finance. Let them come and tell Nigerians why this has to be so. We have fiscal policies and monetary policies. Why is the CBN dabbling into fiscal policies? The CBN should focus on monetary policy which is its core responsibility.

“Imagine, if I want to bring in textile as imports, I cannot open Form M despite the fact that I am sourcing money from the black market, not the CBN.”

On the expected deployment of scanners at the ports, the ANLCA Vice President warned the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) not to make scanning of cargoes at the seaport cumbersome like 100 per cent physical examination

“Now that we have scanning machines everywhere in the port, then we should reduce procedures of clearance at the ports. Once you make your declaration, make payment and it selectivity takes you to scanning and your cargo is scanned with no discrepancies, you should be allowed to exit the ports with your consignment.

“It is not a situation that it will be job for the boys, I have to mention it because before you know it, you will see that scanning procedures will become cumbersome like 100 per cent examination,” he warned.

Explaining what he meant by “job for the boys”, Farinto said, “my fear is that after conducting examination and there is image analysis, whether there is discrepancies or not, you will see Customs dispatching your image analysis to DC scanning, DC scanning will dispatch to AC scanning, AC Scanning will dispatch to the officer at scanning site in a bid to ensure human contact with the clearing agents. Of what use is scanning if it will look like running 100 per cent cargo examination?” he asked.

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