NAGAFF Lauds FG For Lifting Forex Restrictions On 43 Items

NAGAFF Lauds FG For Lifting Forex Restrictions On 43 Items
……..as Dr.Aniebonam pleads for release of rice seized by Customs
……..knocks Emefiele on his fiscal policies

Dr.Anienonam

By Frank Odinukaeze

The National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders( NAGAFF), has hailed the Federal Government for lifting FOREX restrictions placed on 43 items , including rice,poultry products amongst others, even as the founder of NAGAFF, Dr.Boniface Aniebonam , pleads with the government to release imported rice seized by customs to the owners.
The NAGAFF founder blamed former Central Bank of Nigeria(CBN), Governor Mr.Godwin Emefiele for dabbling into fiscal policies which resulted in hardship for importers and Nigerians.
In a press statement made available to the media, Dr.Aniebonam enjoined the Minister of finance to reduce the sufferings of Nigerians by ensuring that imported rice seized by the Nigeria Customs are released to their owners after paying the appropriate duty and surchages, as this will also cushion the harsh effects of subsidy removal.
Part of the statement reads,” We hall start our passionate appeal to your esteem office by thanking and congratulating mr president for taking a popular trade related decisions to reverse the overzealous nature of mr Godwin Emefiele during his tenure as the governor of Central Bank of Nigeria.

” It is already in the public domain that the new CBN governor had made it clear that he will be concentrating on monetary policy of the apex bank other than dabbling into fiscal policy trade. We can authoritatively say that a Daniel has come to judgement. Once again congratulations and thanks to mr president for making appropriate appointments inline with his mantra new hope for Nigeria

” Hon minister sir,it is common to understand that human beings are prone to mistakes even though in the case of Mr. Godwin Emefiele, it is nothing other than abuse of power and corruption. To us, we hold that government must take responsibility to reverse itself and forestall the avoidable loss of investments by innocent investors and shippers of rice importation and related 43 items of trade goods

” Hon Minister, let us briefly take you to the atrocities committed by Mr. Godwin Emefiele, and the immediate past Comptroller General of the Nigeria customs service Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali. In the case of Mr. Godwin Emefiele, he had no reasons not to contact the customs board to advise him on the subject matter of delisting rice importation and the 43 items from forex benefits, in relation to customs laws. If he did it, is our belief that the customs would have advised him most appropriately and professionally.

” On the part of the customs, it is most unfortunate that the former customs boss had a limited knowledge about customs matters and international trade. Even when his attention was drawn to the provisions of the customs laws trade matters, his mind was already made to seize rice importation in particular .

” Hon minister sir, it is a fact that rice and the 43 items delisted from forex benefits are not among goods that fall under prohibition list ,and or, absolute prohibition. Indeed,it is also a fact that every import into Nigeria must have a registered form ‘M’ in any of the authorised commercial banks for the purposes of trade data and statistics.

“But here again the extant law of the Nigeria customs service is superior to executive order of Mr. Godwin Emefiele sitting at CBN. Under CEMA ,the provisions for remedy are provided under the circumstances. Please see section 27 of the customs and excise mgt act as amended then.

” Under this section, the Nigeria customs service has the powers to deal with imports whose documentation is incomplete and penalty thereto applied . The situation was so simple to mitigate noting that destination inspection trade policy is in force. This is coupled with the fact that the pre-arrival assessment report of the customs is advisory.

” And so there were no reasons to confiscate and seize rice imports and the 43 items of innocent traders. Indeed we all know the existence of bill for collection in our foreign trade transactions . Hon minister why are we so wicked to each other and or just to show power and authority?

” Honestly Nigerians must remain very greatful to the officers and men of the customs who always deploy discretional powers in carrying out their statutory duty, otherwise, i wonder what could have happened to trade in Nigeria, if they have the mindset of the likes of Mr. Godwin Emefiele and the retired CGC Hameed Ali Ibrahim.

” Having said all these to the honorable minister and the Comptroller General of Customs, we urge you to approach Mr. president to grant amnesty to all the people that their goods were seized and still within the custody of the Nigeria customs service to take delivery of their imports. This is because the customs do not have reasons to seize such goods in the first instance . They were not banned and never breached customs laws and or trade policy.

” We want to believe that the rightful owners will want, and be ready to pay appropriate customs duty and any other surcharge thereto and take delivery of their goods. It is even to the advantage of revenue due to the government than sale of auction.

” Above all, Nigerians shall be most grateful to Mr. president listening to the yearnings of suffering Nigerians. This, is equally a most appropriate opportunity to cushion the effect of oil subsidy.”