In a bid to stop the illegal importation of arms and illicit items, the Federal Government of Nigeria has directed that all imports and exports in containers should be in pallet, starting from 2018.
This was made known by the Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun, on Thursday at a sensitization workshop on the 2017 Revised Import and Export Guidelines, in Lagos organized by the Finance Ministry and the technical committee of the Nigeria Export Supervision Scheme and the Comprehensive Import Supervision Scheme.
Adeosun, who was represented by the Director of Home Finance, Mrs Olubunmi Siyanbola, stated that the Government policy was to aid the ease of doing business in the Country and enhance manual examination of goods while awaiting the installation of scanning machines in sea and land borders.
“After due consultations with the relevant key stakeholder MDAs, the effective date for full implementation of the guidelines was agreed upon, taking into account the need to give allowance for imports already prepared for shipment into Nigeria. In this note, I wish to announce that the Export and Import Guidelines will be fully implemented with effect from 1/1/2018.”
The Minister noted that the Federal Government is taking the implementation policy serious and would not hesitate to penalize whoever is found, violating the rules.
“Furthermore, in order to ensure quick clearance of import at the Nigerian ports and borders, the additional responsibilities assigned to the relevant government agencies would be carried out in a well-coordinated and collaborated manner, while the sanctions specified for non-compliance with the provisions of the guidelines would be strictly and impartially applied across board.”
She also said the palletisation policy of imports and exports is not a new invention, as it is being done in most countries and assures that goods loaded for shipment to Nigeria prior to the date of implementation will not be affected.
“Let me also say that we have examined all concerns expressed by the trading public regarding the palletization policy of the government. The list of cargoes of goods that may be exempted from palletization, where it is absolutely necessary will be placed on the website of the Federal Ministry of Finance and Nigeria Customs service shortly.”
Palletization is the process whereby, goods are stored and transported on a pallet; a flat structure used as a base for easy handling, moving and stacking transporting goods.
The move is coming after the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Hameed Ali, just last week, accused shipping companies in Nigeria of aiding the importation of illegal firearms into the Country.
Mr Ali had said the Service would find it difficult to stop illegal importations if the shipping companies responsible are not brought to book.
Between January and September, the Nigerian Customs was able to intercept 2,671 pump action rifles in Apapa and Tin Can Island Ports.
