Worried by the rising evasion of import duties and tariffs by some Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) who collude with contractors, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) high command has since criminalised such acts, reports Ibrahim Apekhade Yusuf
The word sabotage comes close to describing a situation where individuals or organisations try to circumvent a process thereby leading to dire consequences for the economy in the short, medium to long term.
Wikipedia puts it more succinctly. According to the multilingual online encyclopedia, “Sabotage is a deliberate action aimed at weakening a polity, effort, or organisation through subversion, obstruction, disruption, or destruction. One who engages in sabotage is a saboteur.”
The foregoing perhaps aptly captures the exact situation the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) high command kicked against recently.
Riot act against MDAs, others
Apparently miffed by what it thought was a deliberate acts of sabotage by some Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) in recent times, the agency warned the MDAs to adhere strictly to guidelines on importation of vehicles and other equipment by paying all outstanding duties and levies over imported items or be liable as fraudulent importers.
A statement issued by the Deputy National Public Relations Officer of the NCS, Mr. Timi Bomodi made no pretense about applying the full weight of the law on anyone caught perpetuating such evil.
According to the Customs image-maker, the MDAs were expected to pay duties on vehicles or other items, except where waivers and concessions were sought and granted.
In the statement which reads in part, the NCS said, “We wish to reiterate that by law, only items imported by the President, Commander in Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, are exempted from the payment of duties or taxes.
“The attention of the Nigeria Customs Service has been drawn to a trend in the activities of certain Ministries, Departments, and Agencies, with regards to their import of vehicles and other equipment.
– The Nation