The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) says many escort vehicles
used by ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) are from smugglers.
Aliyu Saidu, NCS assistant comptroller-general (ACG) in
charge of ICT/modernisation, said this on Tuesday, when he appeared before the
house of representatives committee on customs.
Saidu was responding to questions on how vehicles are
smuggled into the country.
He said according to the NCS database, the number of Hilux
vehicles imported into the country have dropped, “but you will find them in
hundreds in town”.
Leke Abejide, chairman of the committee, had asked about
measures put in place by NCS to check vehicle smuggling.
The lawmaker said he had an encounter with smugglers, who
import vehicles into the country, thereby denying the government import duties.
“Let me give you a scenario of myself; I told DCG Talatu. I
said I have vehicles for my own use; that I bought and I shipped them,” he
said.
“The person who shipped it told me that there is a way they
can do it for me not to pay the correct duty.
“I said not me. How much is the money? If I have money to
buy this vehicle, how much is the duty that I will not be able to pay?”
Responding, Saidu commended the lawmaker for his stand
against smuggling, and accused high-profile individuals in Nigeria of supporting
smuggling activities.
“I can’t thank enough the honourable member that raised this
issue on vehicles. Nigeria customs service needs your support in this regard,”
he said.
“Unfortunately, today, the big men in Nigeria — I didn’t say
national assembly members — all their escort vehicles (Hilux) are smuggled
vehicles.
“MDAs — ministries and departments of government — today,
patronise smuggled Hilux. And that is why if you see our system, Hilux
importation has dropped, but you will find them in hundreds in town. Mostly,
they use them as escorts.”
Saidu asked the lawmakers to amend existing laws to make it
difficult to smuggle vehicles into the country.
He added that customs is working on a mobile app that will
tackle smuggling, and also ensure that the right import duty is paid to the
government.
“We are almost done with that one. We have made the
presentation to the management about two weeks ago. They made some critical
observations, which we are working on now before we take it back to them for
final approval. Then, it will be rolled out,” he said.
Commenting on the development, the chairman of the committee
asked the NCS to get the app ready to save “the image of customs and Nigerians
from all these embarrassments”.
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