Duty Payment Extension: Customs Got It Wrong Again

Imported Cars |

The recent circular released by the PRO on behalf of Comptroller-General of Customs Hameed Ali (Rtd) in respect to duty payment extension period to all private and car dealers in the country is another administrative blunder. It clearly shows that the CGC is not aware of the flight of Nigerians especially under economic recession, and to say the least is the most unfortunate.

Instead of coming up with the draconian and unpopular policies, why not invite all accredited car dealers, clearing agents and other stakeholders to intimate them on the need to valid their car documents and make an attempt of downward review of the duty to make it attractive and give enough reasonable time to achieve that.

Why can't Hameed Ali allow all cars already on the roads to automatically phase out and embark on massive public enlightenment campaign on all public places on the need to pay Customs duty? That will make Nigerians to embrace the idea and simply comply with the directives. Otherwise, they will asked how did the cars get into the country in the first place?

Funny enough, with the current economic difficulty you asked Nigerians to pay duty within one month time frame while the rate of duty is not only high but also unattractive? If at all you are serious and you want help both the government and Nigerians why not give at least six months grace period? How do you except average Nigerians to cough out hundreds of thousand or millions in this economic situation just to pay duty? Quite impossible.

One important point that made the circular unpopular and rejected by Nigerians is that even if someone is interested in paying the duty but based in Kebbi State can't do so until he goes to Zonal office in Kaduna. What? So, before I can pay duty I have to suspend my activity, fuel my car and travel for over seven hours, paid for hotel room, feed myself before I can process the duty payment. Is this not funny and very impossible? Why can't you make the payment at nearby Customs offices across the country? Why can't you create a mobile task force to be stationed at various locations across the country that one can visit and process everything on the spot instead of forcing to travel far away from their homes?

Funny enough, may be Hameed Ali is not briefed properly by his men, but our findings indicates that there is no ICT connection in both the Zonal Offices of Kaduna and Bauchi. This means in the entire North, nobody can be able to pay duty with the current arrangements even if we wish to do so. I challenge the PRO to inform the public whether or not their is functional and ready to use internet connection in all the Zonal Offices that is directly linked to Headquarters and duty collecting banks as at Friday, the 3rd of March 2017. This policy is not only unpopular but also dead on arrival.

If you want to achieve success in this policy make sure to give at least six months time frame. Make a downward review or let's say cars from ten years from the date of production to pay this and cars from five years to pay this, etc. That will be more attractive. Also, make sure all Customs offices across the nation are connected, as it is not all are connected talk less of Zonal Offices. Be reminded that nobody will travel to another town simply because he want to pay duty. Embark on mass public enlightenment in all public fora using radio, TV, pamphlets, social media and even market square using different languages and dialects. Without educating the public how then do you force them and expect positive result within one month?

Finally, Col. Hameed Ali should bear in mind that any attempt to enforce Nigerians to comply with this ill conceived policy within limited time and under economic downturn will be meted with stiff resistance. No doubt about that. However, I am optimistic that people will accept the policy if the above suggestions are put in place.

Alhaji Usman Kabir Anka,

Concern Stakeholder/Car Dealer,

Zamfara State, Nigeria.

5th March, 2017