Customs
Ember months: Cargothrouput slumps by 40 percent at Nigerian ports
—- Customs laments
The tone of the global trading and shipping environment has been characterised by uncertainty as a result.
The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) acknowledged the disruption of regional logistics, halted port operations in Ukraine, the destruction of infrastructure, trade restrictions, increased insurance costs and higher fuel prices as causes of issues within the Black Sea region.
Jan Hoffmann , Head of Trade Logistics branch at UNCTAD, says: “The war in Ukraine impressively shows again how globalised the shipping business is: Shifts in demand in one corner of the world lead to changes in prices and fleet deployment in many other corners of the world.
“What I find most interesting of our findings is that almost half of the increase in global food prices is due to the higher shipping costs.
“And these are higher because goods have to travel longer distances, i.e. we have more ton-miles, but also each ton-mile is now more expansive, because of a shortage of global shipping capacity.”
In 2020, grain prices and shipping costs were already increasing and the Ukraine conflict has accelerated this trend.
According to UNCTAD, between February and May 2022, the price of dry bulk goods transportation had risen by around 60%.
Around 36 countries import over 50% of their wheat from the Russian Federation and Ukraine and global sea exports of grain are expected to decline by 3.8% this year while global shipments of fertiliser decline by 7%.
“Black Sea ports normally account for over 90% of Ukrainian overseas grain shipments, weekly port calls have dropped from 60 to almost zero in Ukraine due to the conflict”
In addition, the high dollar exchange rates to the Naira as well as the high Customs exchange rate for goods clearance have all impacted the purchasing powers of Nigerian importers.
It could be recalled that for yet another time in September, the Customs exchange rate was jerked up from $409 to $422.3, an increment of $13.3.
” Also the recent naira redesigning policy of the government and the coming elections in the country have all created an atmosphere of uncertainty among importers who prefer to stop importation until after the elections when there would be some sort of clarity, and stability in government economic policies,” a source said.
This lull has therefore put pressure on the men and officers of the Nigeria Customs Service to meet their revenue targets amidst sluggish importation.
”We are under pressure to rake in more revenue for the government despite low imports.
“This is because the revenue from the Customer has become a financial mainstay for the government which now relies on Customs to fund some of its recurrent expenditure, especially payment of salaries for workers” a highly placed source declared.
“To cushion the effects which the lull in importation may have on our revenue generation, we have to tighten the noose by plugging all the revenue loopholes to generate maximum revenue”
” Some of the areas where we hitherto overlook by giving the importers and their agents a breathing space to operate have now been tightened up for maximum revenue collection” a customs source declared.
Customs
Vicious smugglers lynch young customs officer to death in Katsina , CGC mourns, orders investigation
Customs
Nigeria Customs, Benin Republic Customs collaborate to snuff lives out of Smugglers on Nigeria-Benin border
Highlighting the significance of the collaboration, the CGC underscored, “We are cognizant of the established framework for cooperation between our respective customs administrations.
Welcoming the delegation with open arms, Mrs. Adidjatou Hassan Zanouvi, the Director-General of Benin Customs Administration, reiterated their steadfast commitment to executing the mutually agreed-upon measures, emphasising the importance of thorough monitoring to ensure effective implementation.
The collaborative endeavours between the Nigeria Customs Service and the Benin Republic Customs Administration, according to her, serve as a testament to their shared commitment to facilitating seamless trade operations and ensuring the efficient management of cross-border activities for the mutual benefit of both nations.
In the meantime, during the visit, the CGC seized the opportunity to inspect ongoing projects within the Nigeria Customs Service, Seme Area Command. Accompanied by the Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Timi Bomodi, the CGC meticulously assessed the progress of the projects and received assurances of diligent oversight from the responsible authorities.
Customs
Zone A FOU, PTML, Ogun 1, Western Marine Commands get new Controllers as Oloyede, Peters get promotions in fresh Customs deployment exercise.
Comptrollers Kolade of FOU Zone C, Comptroller Kehinde Ejibunu of FOU Zone A as well as Comptroller Wada have been moved to the Customs Headquarters.
Comptroller Ojo will take over from Comptroller Shuaibu at Ogun 1 Command while Comptroller Oladeji will resume as Controller in charge of FOU Zone A Ikeja.
Comptroller Adegbite will take over at PTML Command while Comptroller Babandede is expected to take over leadership at Onne Port Harcourt 1 Command as the Area Controller.
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