Customs Agents Continue Strike, as Customs Says VIN Valuation Is About ‘Artificial Intelligence’
LAGOS PORT
The issue between customs agents and the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) over the newly introduced Vehicle Identity Number (VIN) valuation system at the Tin Can Island Port is yet to be resolved.
The protesting customs agents are insisting that they will not back down on the strike as the Customs Service on Tuesday appealed for understanding, describing the policy as one of transparency.
Members of the Association of Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) said the new policy has led to importers paying as much as N1million duty on one car as against about N200,000 that was the case before.
The protest which has been on for two days has affected clearing of vehicles at the Tin Can Island Port.
The Task Force set up by the ANLCA is enforcing the action against the Customs with the association insisting that the Service should go back to the old rate.
The National Public Relations Officer of the Customs, Mr Timi Bomodi in a statement Tuesday appealed to the customs agents to accept the new VIN regime.
According to Bomodi, the new VIN uses “artificial intelligence:” to make the system transparent.
For instance, he explained that the artificial intelligence assembles trade data which represent a range of values that are consistent for each car make and model using VIN.
He explained in the statement, “It is totally devoid of human inputs by NCS officers and enables easy and fast assessments necessary to process duty payments.
“Indeed, time-motion studies confirm a maximum of six hours between automated assessments and release of cars using VIN valuation.
“Following the demands of agents for a simplified system which recognises standard values, NCS is confident that this innovation in clearing process will satisfy the desires of agents clamouring for change.
“The resistance to VIN valuation comes as a surprise seeing that it is deliberately designed to meet their demands. It also compels us to investigate further, the intentions of those protesting its use.
“When our valuation officers gave out ex-factory prices for duty assessment, they were accused of collecting monetary inducements to give lower values. It will be interesting to know what these same agents/importers will accuse the machines of discrimination based on non-digital considerations”.
The PRO said those protesting against the new VIN do not care about “automation, simplification, harmonization” and transparency involved.
The protesting customs agents are insisting that they will not back down on the strike as the Customs Service on Tuesday appealed for understanding, describing the policy as one of transparency.
Members of the Association of Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) said the new policy has led to importers paying as much as N1million duty on one car as against about N200,000 that was the case before.
The protest which has been on for two days has affected clearing of vehicles at the Tin Can Island Port.
The Task Force set up by the ANLCA is enforcing the action against the Customs with the association insisting that the Service should go back to the old rate.
The National Public Relations Officer of the Customs, Mr Timi Bomodi in a statement Tuesday appealed to the customs agents to accept the new VIN regime.
According to Bomodi, the new VIN uses “artificial intelligence:” to make the system transparent.
For instance, he explained that the artificial intelligence assembles trade data which represent a range of values that are consistent for each car make and model using VIN.
He explained in the statement, “It is totally devoid of human inputs by NCS officers and enables easy and fast assessments necessary to process duty payments.
“Indeed, time-motion studies confirm a maximum of six hours between automated assessments and release of cars using VIN valuation.
“Following the demands of agents for a simplified system which recognises standard values, NCS is confident that this innovation in clearing process will satisfy the desires of agents clamouring for change.
“The resistance to VIN valuation comes as a surprise seeing that it is deliberately designed to meet their demands. It also compels us to investigate further, the intentions of those protesting its use.
“When our valuation officers gave out ex-factory prices for duty assessment, they were accused of collecting monetary inducements to give lower values. It will be interesting to know what these same agents/importers will accuse the machines of discrimination based on non-digital considerations”.
The PRO said those protesting against the new VIN do not care about “automation, simplification, harmonization” and transparency involved.
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