Connect with us

Business

Customs To Issue Licence For Vehicle Terminals

Published

on

Vehicle dealers in the country will now enjoy clearing their cars from the ports and pay duty later going by a new policy approved by the government for Nigerian Customs Service.
This is as Customs is set to issue licenses for establishment of inland bounded vehicles terminals across the country.
This, according to the services spokesman, Joseph Attah, is to create ease in the automobile business and increase commercial activities by giving a boost to the economy.
Attah said the Customs is set to commence issuance of licenses to interested auto dealers or any person who intends to operate  bonded  vehicle terminals.
The Customs according to him, will consider ownership of fenced landed spaces with designated building for Customs outpost within the terminals and a N50million  banks bond after details study of the  company’s profile before issuing licenses to applicants.
Attah also said the new regime of car holding which is coming after the ban on the important of vehicles from the land borders will boost auto businesses, strengthen National economy and security.
Apart from removing the burden of duty payment at the ports of discharge from the operators , there will be many positive multiplier  effects like  Spare Part Shops, Mechanic Villages, Food Vendors and many more springing  up commercial bank branches around such terminals.
He added  that full customs  functions of examination, assessment for value and prevention of smuggling through any forms of concealment in vehicles will not be compromised under  the  new regime.
Operators will be allowed to take delivery of their vehicles to their terminals under customs escort and pay duty as the cars are bought within a 28days grace period as operators now make sales from imported cars before duty payment  at their bonded  terminals.
For ease of duty collection and security the customs will maintain presence inside the terminals. bills of laden will indicate actual terminals where the imported vehicles will be transferred to and will make for easy evacuation from the ports to the designated terminals unlike previous methods of collecting duties to vehicles before they exit the ports which poses risks of congestion and possibility of being declared as overtime cargo due to lack of immediate funds to clear, the new regime will feature a seamless transfer of cars from the ports  to bonded terminals.
Attah, said, “Interested business persons and car dealers are expected to apply to the Comptroller General of Customs through the Area Controller of the place the terminals is to be sited.
“There will be chains of legitimate job opportunities for Banks, Auto mechanics, Spare Part Dealers , Vulcanizing Services provider and other auxiliary vehicles related business and jobs”, Attah said.
“Whatever job loss was associated with the ban vehicles importation through  the land borders will be better for it, he added”
The new method is a departure from the previous regimes which only provided  licenses for container terminals
Operators who make fat sales of  their vehicles  consignments within 28 days  will little  or nothing to pay duty on as  buyers would paid duty for  what they bough before driving  out of the terminals .
Only unsold vehicles that are left in  the terminals after the period will attract  customs immediate demand  for duty  payment from the operators.
This eliminates the stresses associated with importers and agents desperately looking for funds to clear their vehicles away from the ports of risk loosing them as overtime cargos.

Continue Reading

Business

NPA Assures On Staff Welfare 

Published

on

The Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, has said the management will continue to accompany its port infrastructure  and equipment  modernization drive  with the development of the welfare of its personnel.
Dantsoho made the disclosure recently while responding to the commendation by the Maritime Workers Union (MWUN) and the senior Staff Association of Statutory Corporations and Government-Owned Companies (SSASGOC) on the  clearing  of the age-long problem of employee stagnation, when the union paid him a courtesy visit at the Authority’s headquarters in Lagos.
A Statement by NPA’s General Manager Corporate & Strategic Communications, Mr. Ikechukwu Onyemekara, quoted Dantsoho as saying,  “our Port infrastructure and equipment modernization drive will go hand-in-hand with continuous staff welfare improvement”.
The NPA MD disclosed that human capital development constitutes the key strategy for creating and sustaining superior performance under his watch, adding that “talent development constitutes a critical success factor for the actualization of the big hairy audacious goals we have set for ourselves especially in the area of Port competitiveness.
“The only way we can meet and indeed exceed stakeholders’ expectations is to deepen the competencies of our human resources assets and boosting their morale.”
Speaking further, Dantsoho commended the Honourable Minister of Marine & Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, for approving the strategic proposal of the Dantsoho-led Management team that solved the over a decade-long problem of lack of promotion that had fuelled industrial disharmony.
“I must specially appreciate our amiable Minister for graciously approving the multi-pronged stratagem we deployed that cleared all outstanding cases of employee stagnation by conducting examinations in one fell swoop and instituted timelines to forestall a recurrence of such anomaly”, he sad.
Speaking on behalf of the joint maritime labour unions, the President  of Senior Staff Association of Statutory Corporations & Government-Owned Companies (SSASCGOC), Comrade Bodunde stated, “In addition to clearance of the backlog of stagnated promotions, we also wish to express our appreciation for the increase in productivity bonuses, provision of end-of-year welfare packages for staff, and the revision of the Financial Guide to the Condition of Service, which now addresses our members’ concerns about inflationary pressures.”
Nkpemenyie Mcdominic, Lagos
Continue Reading

Business

ANLCA Chieftain Emerges FELCBA’s VP

Published

on

National Secretary of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Elder Olumide Fakanlu, has been elected Vice President of the Federation of ECOWAS Licensed Customs Brokers Association (FELCBA).
The election took place during the FELCBA Congress, held from Tuesday, June 17th to Thursday, June 19th, 2025, in Freetown, Sierra Leone.
Fakanlu’s emergence as Vice President marks a significant achievement for Nigeria within the regional customs brokerage community.
Apart from Fakanlu, Secretary of the Seme Chapter of ANLCA, Austin Nwosu, was also elected, securing the role of Secretary of Relations with Institutions.
The Nigerian delegation played an active role in the congress, with Michael Ebeatu nominated as a member of the electoral officer team, ensuring a fair and transparent election process.
The three-day congress concluded with delegates undertaking a visit to the Sierra Leone Port, offering insights into the host nation’s maritime operations, followed by a recreational trip to the Tokeh Beach.
The newly elected executives are expected to lead FELCBA in its efforts to harmonize customs brokerage practices, promote trade facilitation, and advocate for the interests of licensed customs brokers across the ECOWAS sub-region.
Nkpemenyie Mcdominic, Lagos
Continue Reading

Business

NSC, Police Boost Partnership On Port Enforcement 

Published

on

In a bid to enhance more enforcement in the nation’s Port, the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) has reaffirmed its commitment to stronger inter-agency collaboration with the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).
The Council said the collaboration is aimed at enhancing stronger enforcement, compliance and improve operational efficiency across Nigeria’s ports.
Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer of  NSC, Dr. Pius Akutah, made this known during a visit to the  Inspector-General of Police, Dr. Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, at the Force Headquarters, Abuja.
The visit, which he said, focused on strengthening institutional synergy, comes in the wake of growing responsibilities for the NSC under the newly created Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy.
Akutah emphasized the critical role of security agencies in supporting port operations and ensuring regulatory compliance.
He called for the posting of police officers to assist the Council’s monitoring and enforcement teams at key port locations including Lagos, Warri, Onne, Port Harcourt, and Calabar.
“The posting will complement the activities of our revived task teams and enhance our ability to enforce standards across the maritime logistics chain”, he said.
Earlier, the Inspector-General of Police, Dr. Egbetokun, assured the Council of the Force’s readiness to continue supporting the growth of the maritime sector.
The IGP acknowledged that compliance enforcement is essential to the successful implementation of Nigeria’s Blue Economy objectives.
“The NSC and NPF are expected to deepen collaboration in the months ahead, with a shared focus on building a secure, efficient, and competitive port environment”, to the IGP emphasized.
Chinedu Wosu
Continue Reading

Trending