$3.2bn Modernisation Project: Fears Importers May Pay More Duties with FG Concession Agreement
HAMMED ALI CUSTOMS CG
By Francis Ugwoke
There are strong indications and apprehension that importers may have to pay more duties in the nation’s ports with the planned e-customs project.
The federal government had on Monday signed 20 years concession agreement with Huawei Technologies Limited in Abuja.
Under the agreement, the projection is that $176 billion revenue will be generated into the coffers of the federal government within 20 years, according to the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Hameed Ibrahim Ali.
The $3.2 billion e-Customs project to be financed by the Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) and managed by Huawei Technologies is expected multiply the monthly revenue generation of the Customs from its current N210bn.
Under the project, expectations are high that the revenue target would quadruple the current monthly revenue figure, a development that would imply more duties or stringent measures against importers to achieve target.
However, the project is expected to achieve full automation of customs operations side by side with the freight forwarders at the ports.
Ali had during the signing ceremony said the project would lead to full automation of services.
He said, “The journey has been long and torturous. But we have eventually signed the dotted lines. I want to appreciate the ICRC for the commitment to see the project to fruition. I appreciate our partners, Huawei Technologies Limited.
They have been part of it. We had to go to China a couple of times. Today, we’re going to become a fully digitized service.
“I thank the AFC for financing this project on behalf of the entire Nigerians.
“The success of this project will be on the global map. We are going to hit the ground running. It is a very beneficial project especially as it’ll garner $176 billion for the concession period. We are likely to surpass that. It’s a 20-year project by which time all aspects of it would have been deployed and Nigerians will decide whether to own it or allow it run as a concession.
“Soon, we will invite Mr President to flag off this project but before then, work starts in earnest. There are rumours that it’ll weed off officers, it’s not true. If anything, we have 15,000 officers but we need nothing less than 30,000 to efficiently carry our mandate.
“But we must be all be computer literate. It’ll be a total paperless operation. Our import, export, clearance processes will be completely digitised. We will enhance and sanitise the process. “We will orient everyone to key into it. We are looking forward to triple our finances and the 7% commission for revenue collection is a big deal for us” .
There are strong indications and apprehension that importers may have to pay more duties in the nation’s ports with the planned e-customs project.
The federal government had on Monday signed 20 years concession agreement with Huawei Technologies Limited in Abuja.
Under the agreement, the projection is that $176 billion revenue will be generated into the coffers of the federal government within 20 years, according to the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Hameed Ibrahim Ali.
The $3.2 billion e-Customs project to be financed by the Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) and managed by Huawei Technologies is expected multiply the monthly revenue generation of the Customs from its current N210bn.
Under the project, expectations are high that the revenue target would quadruple the current monthly revenue figure, a development that would imply more duties or stringent measures against importers to achieve target.
However, the project is expected to achieve full automation of customs operations side by side with the freight forwarders at the ports.
Ali had during the signing ceremony said the project would lead to full automation of services.
He said, “The journey has been long and torturous. But we have eventually signed the dotted lines. I want to appreciate the ICRC for the commitment to see the project to fruition. I appreciate our partners, Huawei Technologies Limited.
They have been part of it. We had to go to China a couple of times. Today, we’re going to become a fully digitized service.
“I thank the AFC for financing this project on behalf of the entire Nigerians.
“The success of this project will be on the global map. We are going to hit the ground running. It is a very beneficial project especially as it’ll garner $176 billion for the concession period. We are likely to surpass that. It’s a 20-year project by which time all aspects of it would have been deployed and Nigerians will decide whether to own it or allow it run as a concession.
“Soon, we will invite Mr President to flag off this project but before then, work starts in earnest. There are rumours that it’ll weed off officers, it’s not true. If anything, we have 15,000 officers but we need nothing less than 30,000 to efficiently carry our mandate.
“But we must be all be computer literate. It’ll be a total paperless operation. Our import, export, clearance processes will be completely digitised. We will enhance and sanitise the process. “We will orient everyone to key into it. We are looking forward to triple our finances and the 7% commission for revenue collection is a big deal for us” .
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