NCS: WHAT’S NEW IN THE NIGERIAN IMPORT VALUE CHAIN?

NCS stands for Nigerian Customs Services. The international logistics trade is and has always been evolving and will keep on doing so. To keep pace with latest developments, one must keep ears and mind open. Narrowing down to Nigeria for instance, we are witnessing an era of nascent and budding democracy. This has impacted and keeps on impacting on how we do things as a people.

NCS AND THE REASON FOR THIS ARTICLE WRITTEN

The import and export business in Nigeria is one of the fastest growing value chains in the economy and is rapidly changing at speedy pace. From the days of President Good-luck Jonathan, when we had to switch from most manual processing of Form M. Many things have really worn new looks. This article for NCS will gather some bits-and-pieces that has added to this niche in the immediate past. Read on for what has happened with NCS.

Read Also: SHIPPING TO NIGERIA – DESTINATION CLEARANCE/HANDLING

NCS, EXECUTIVE ORDERS ON EASE OF DOING BUSINESS IN NIGERIA; PORT OPERATIONS:

On the 18 May 2017, Nigeria’s Acting president, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo signed executive order on ease of doing business Nigeria. This order affects us the logistics business with the main pieces as:

• “All agencies present at the ports shall harmonize their operations into one single interface station in one location in the port and implement by a single joint task force at all times.” This means quicker import cargo clearance and time saving.
• “The new single interface solution at the ports shall supply weekly data on goods arriving and departing Nigeria to the head of the National Bureau of Statistics” this means easy checks by government and availability of information for researchers.
• All ports in Nigeria to dedicate an existing terminal for the export of Agricultural produce. This is understandable because the focus of this current government is export promotion and import reduction to boost local economy through agricultural produce.
• “The Apapa port shall resume 24-hour operations within 30 days of the issuance of the order” This should definitely interest all importer especially those who like urgent jobs.
• “No touting allowed at the ports by official or nonofficial persons”
• “Any official caught soliciting or receiving bribes from passengers or other port users shall be subject to immediate removal from post and disciplined” If you do business in and around the ports you will understand why this is important.

The implementation deadline for all of the above was past 17 June 2018. Thus, this means that orders are already operational and you can benefit as desired right now.

Read Also: CUSTOMS CLEARING PROCESS: TAX IDENTIFICATION NUMBER

NCS: REVISED GUIDELINES FOR FAST-TRACK APPROVALS

The circular titled T&T/2018/CIRCULAR NO. 10 read:

“I refer to T&T/2017/CIRCULAR NO. 39 and dated 22 November, 2017 on the above subject matter and hereby inform that Bank Bond in the sum of Fifty Million Naira (NGN50,000000.00), to secure duty payable is no longer a requirement for Fast-Track Approval”

“In line with the extant clearance procedures which provide for Pre-Arrival documentation, Declaration are captured while Duty and other charges are paid prior to the arrival of goods. Consequently, there is no longer need for a Bond to secure Duty and other Taxes which have already been paid”

“You are therefore requested to disseminate this information to all the officers working under you and other stakeholders in the Import-Value-Chain accordingly please” from the Assistance Controller General Tariff & Trade EKEKEZIE K.C FOR COMPTROLLER GENERAL OF CUSTOMS.

I hope this information is articulate and useful to us all.

In Summary:

The import and export business in Nigeria is constantly evolving. To keep pace means to be open to pieces of information. The switch from manual processing of Form M and other documents to digital way of life by NCS was just a beginning of what lay ahead. Therefore, my next article will furnish more changes in the market.

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