‘Comply With New Tax System’

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has asked the Association
of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) to ensure compliance with the
Taxpayers Identification Number (TIN).

An Assistant Comptroller of Customs, Mr Dera Nnadi, made the
call in Lagos at a stakeholders’ meeting jointly organised by the Federal
Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).

Nnadi said that the compliance would facilitate quick
clearance of cargo at the ports.

According to him, the tax identification number is a
continuation of Automated System of Customs Data method of clearing cargoes in
the ports.

He urged the federal inland revenue service to extend the
same awareness campaign on TIN to traders in the market.

“I am grateful that our sojourn is yielding result. I am
particularly happy with the association of licensed customs agents. There is so
much transformation in the association.

“When we wanted to establish the first computer office in
the association’s Chapter office in Apapa, it was like a dream. We were begging
people.

“I am very grateful that the delegation from the association
is here. I also expect that we should have similar representation from the
market associations from Idumota, Aspanda, from Alaba electrical market, from
Ladipo market, because if we get all of them to understand what we are aiming
at, we make the road shorter.’’

Mr Olanrewaju Shittu, the President of the customs licensed
agents association, said that the meeting with the stakeholders would make
people to understand the fundamentals of the tax regime.

He said that government should harmonise its tax structure
so that there would be no duplication of tax on cargo.

“People have been coming to my office to complain about the
multiple tax system and it only behoves on the government to ensure that
something is done.’’