The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) on Wednesday, May 6, 2015 disclosed how it blacklisted some major rice importers for allegedly owing the federal government about N20 billion in unpaid customs duties.
The trade facilitating service also said it was set to initiate criminal proceedings against the affected importers for their unwillingness to offset the said tariffs despite the expiration of two ultimatums, resulting in the advertised publications of their names in some national dailies on Tuesday, April 14, 2015.
The spokesman of the service, Mr. Wale Adeniyi, made the disclosure to newsmen during a workshop for officers of the service in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital.
He said, “Management has decided to enforce the Customs Law. It is not about sanctions yet; it is just about asking them to pay what they owe the federal government. We recognise that it might take some time to file charges and so to enable them feel the full impact of the decision, we have also decided to block them on the PAAR platform.”
He reinstated the resolve of the service to adopt any possible means to ensure the defaulters paid every dime owned to the federal government.
“We have the law that empowers us to prosecute any person or company that contravenes the Customs Act. This is clearly an offence against the Customs Law and that is why management is taking this decisive measures,” he said.
He further explained that as far as service is concerned, the affected companies already secured themselves concessions to import, noting that the act of importing in excess of what they obtained approval for was already an overstretch of the privileges, Leadership reports.
He said, “Hence, none of them should think of coming to request for another round of concessions again.”
