The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), under the provisions of the NCS Act 2023, has appealed to importers and agents to auction off containers and vehicles currently stored overtime under various commands. Given a 30-day grace period to process and clear customs. Once the grace period ends.
In a public notice posted on its website, the agency advised importers and agents to clear the goods within the stipulated deadline to avoid confiscation to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
This Directive is issued for the public notice with ex parte motion dated October 15, 2024, case number: FHC/L/MISC/680/2024.
The statement read: “Therefore, importers/agents of out-of-hours goods have a grace period of 30 days from the date of this publication to either process and clear the goods or confiscate the goods to the Federal Government of Nigeria. ” is written.
“Please note that in accordance with the NCS Act 2023, the Nigerian Customs Service will commence the auction of all unliquidated after-hours goods immediately after the end of the grace period.”
What you need to know
The recent directive of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) stems from the continuing challenges regarding the accumulation of excess goods such as containers and vehicles left abandoned for long periods at ports and border command posts.
If these items are unclaimed for more than 30 days after arrival at the airport or more than 90 days after arrival at the port, they are classified as excess cargo and cause congestion at ports and storage facilities. Over the years, the backlog of these goods has affected the efficiency of Nigeria’s trade logistics, resulting in increased operational costs for port authorities and delays in cargo handling. Historically, auctioning unsettled goods has been a strategy used by customs to collect revenue and free up space. In a crowded terminal. However, previous attempts have faced criticism over allegations of preferential treatment in the auction process and controversy over transparency. In early 2024, Customs announced the launch of an upgraded e-auction portal for transparent processing of seized and out-of-hours goods. Launched on January 15, 2024, the platform represents a move towards increased transparency and accessibility of the auction process. To participate, individuals must possess a valid Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) issued by the Federal Internal Revenue Service (FIRS). This TIN must be verified on the TaxPro Max platform to ensure that only those who meet their tax obligations are eligible to bid. Additionally, participants must have a valid email address to sign up for the portal. This step facilitates communication between NCS and bidders throughout the auction process. Follow us for breaking news and market information.
Source link Read more related news on Gnews
