Customs Prioritizes Trade Relations, Job Creation

The Nigeria Customs Service has on Wednesday said that it is not mainly concerned about what the Service generates as Customs Duty at Free Trade Zones (FTZs) within the Country, unlike what some citizens ‘mistakenly’ insinuate.

The Ag. Customs Area Controller of Ogun II Command, DC Ahmadu Shu’aibu, who made this disclosure in an interview with newsmen in Ogun, said that the Service is more concerned about trade facilitation; creating job opportunities for Nigerians and ensuring good quality of products.

He hinted that Guandong Free-Trade Zone is the largest FTZ in Ogun State, which according to him, is another Country within Nigeria in line with the legal framework that establishes Zone. He described its vastness in terms of contribution to the GDP and transfer of technology to Nigeria.

“We equally have another Free Trade Zone in Sagamu that is basically into plastic production and about five enterprises are being managed by a group of Nigerians and foreigners within the zone.” He added.

He said that the impact of revenue generation in a Free Trade Zone cannot be overemphasized, especially if the amount of raw materials imported into the Country is significant.

Experts define a Free Trade Zone as a designated location in a geographical area where enterprises can operate without trade barriers, bureaucratic bottlenecks, and customs interference to attract new businesses and foreign participation.

In FTZs, goods may be landed, handled, manufactured, or reconfigured and re-exported without the intervention of the customs authorities – unlike goods that attract duties because they are meant to be taken outside the Free Trade Zone to Customs territory.

In excise control-related activities Shu’aibu stated, “Of all the 57 excise factories we have within Ogun II Area Command, only 36 are into production and they are being watched by men of the Nigeria Customs Service on a daily basis and at the end of the month, they collect excise duties from the factories.”

He said that 11 factories are currently undergoing the documentation process, and will soon be mature to be listed under excise control, adding that the remaining 10 are moribund.

“These inactive factories were into production before but they are now dormant due to various reasons which include the state of the economy, finance, and lack of inflow of raw materials.” Shu’aibu highlighted.

Meanwhile, the Ag. Area Controller stated that the Commnad was able to generate N7,493,994.55 between January and March 2023.
Source: Dailyfeeds.ng