Customs, Stakeholders Hold Talks On VIN Valuation Policy Amid Protests, Strike Action

Nigeria Customs Service, stakeholders hold talks on Vin Valuation Policy amid strike action.

Customs Area Controller spoke extensively on the VIN Valuation Policy, which has generated tension leading to protests.

He pointed out that the Service conducted a series of webinars on the policy before it was finally deployed.

He wondered why the issue has generated furore at a time the Service had thought the process is seamless.

The Area Controller Nigeria Customs Service Tincan Island Port Command Compt. AdeKunle Oloyede on Tuesday engaged Critical Stakeholders in his inaugural meeting following the protests over the VIN Valuation Policy.

Uche Ejesieme, Public Relations Officer Tincan Island Command disclosed this in a statement made available to pressmen.

In his opening remarks, the Customs Area Controller reiterated the Core Functions of the Service namely – Collection of Revenue, Suppression of Smuggling, Border Security, Facilitation of Trade, Enforcement of Fiscal Policies of the Federal Government.

The Customs Area Controller spoke extensively on the VIN Valuation Policy, which has generated tension leading to protests. He pointed out that the Service conducted a series of webinars on the policy before it was finally deployed and wondered why the issue has generated furore at a time the Service had thought the process is seamless.

He called on the Stakeholders to always seek engagement with appropriate authority and ensure continuous capacity building for their members, especially at this period that the Service is advancing to full automation.

On the recent protests carried out by Freight Forwarders as a result of the VIN Valuation Policy, Oloyede charged them to de-emphasize the issue of strike actions for whatever reason as he pointed out that protests have never solved any problem anywhere in the world.

• See Also : Customs Explains Why New VIN Valuation Being Used Will Increase Its Revenue, Transparency

Speaking further, the Customs Area Controller spoke about the Trade Facilitation tools available in the Command and urged Stakeholders to take advantage of the tools to resolve any issue that may arise in the Clearance process.

He reminded them about the Dispute Resolution Committee (DRC), the Help Desk, among others as avenues where grievances can be channelled for expeditious resolution.

Meanwhile, the Stakeholders had ventilated their challenges beyond the VIN Valuation to other issues hindering their operations and the Customs Area Controller promised to look into the issues dispassionately to ensure that an enabling environment is created for compliant traders.

He charged the stakeholders to brace up for the challenges ahead particularly with the anticipated full automation for the Service’s processes and procedures. He reassured that full automation will lead to ease of doing businesses and called on stakeholders to be ICT savvy.

On the raging issue, Oloyede advised stakeholders to continue to engage and avoid situations where Agents could resort to self-help and create room for miscreants to hijack the process and wreak havoc in the system.

In conclusion, he assured them of his preparedness to run an open and transparent regime to ensure that all opinions are accommodated in the Trade Value Chain.

• See Also : Nigeria Customs Unveils New Automatic VIN Valuation System For Imported Vehicles