The Rivers port in Port Harcourt Area 1, before now had suffered unmitigated decay of its infrastructure resulting in loss of big and world-class shipping companies and big time importers. But import business is now at the peak with the new privatization regime. While this development is encouraging maritime stockholders to return to the port, the only one road industry road off Azikiwe road that leads to the port has remained a death trap to all and sundry. Harry Samuel, Customs Public Relations Officer (CPRO), Area I Customs Command situated within the port in this interview with SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT Godwin Egba, on behalf of his Area controller, comptroller Dan Garba Kuffi, opens up on the deplorable condition of the road, the customs revenue drive and other issues. Excerpts:
Beyond generating revenue for the federal government, the Nigeria Customs Service also checks anti-smuggling operations and under-declaration of imports. What has been the effort of the command in this area?
Yes, smuggling or concealment is done through the sea ports and land border post. But here, there is nothing like that because we are on scanner tracking service which means anything that comes must go through the scanning machine. We have our servers that handle all that is required to detect under declaration. If discovered, Debit Note (DN) will be raised for the importer(s) to go and pay. Even the fraudulent importers who engage in such economic sabotage are scared of our Area 1 command, especially when comptroller Dan Kuff is on ground with his vigilant officers. We ensure that importers play by the rules of the game, otherwise they risk sanctions.
The two concessionaires of the Port Harcourt Area 1 Ports (PTOL and BUA) are the private terminal operators. Alongside Customs, what efforts are they making to woo back more importers to the port?
We Customs don’t have to go to the importers, we are only custodians. However PTOL and BUA met us to put heads together to bring back importers to the port. I was among the team that visited some of the importers in Aba, Abia State, Nnewi and Onitsha in Anambra State. Even PTOL assured them that if they are willing to patronize the port, there would be reduction of import charges for them. We Customs don’t have any problem with charges because we have the Common External Tariff (CET) as a bible in black and white for importers to know what is duty rate of all dutiable items imported. Nobody cheats them inasmuch as we would not compromise any sharp practices.
Despite the meeting with some of the importers, they were still not willing to respond. Why are they reluctant?
You know, they operate in group and if they are getting the best wherever they are operating it is not easy for some members to relocate. But with time they would come to the Area 1 port. Some of them in Onitsha even said the federal government has promised to build a port in Onitsha so they are waiting but that is not a day’s job. As I said earlier, let the government dualize the bad road, dredge the sea shore, provide adequate pilot boats, conducive atmosphere and you will see them coming black to the port.
Some other Customs command make a lot of seizures, how is it with the Port Harcourt area I?
We have no cases of seizures here because we always encourage importers to come to us to be enlightened about imports that are on prohibited list. All that information is on our website and we also post same on our notice boards. We sensitize them, so whichever way they don’t understand, let them come for enlightenment and proper guidance for the interest of their investment in the import business.
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