MAN Seeks Seamless Clearance Of Imports, Exportation Of Raw Materials, Spare Parts
The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has called for the intervention of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) in the areas of seamless clearance of imports, and exportation of raw materials and spare parts to, boost foreign exchange earnings.
The President of MAN, Engineer Mansur Ahmed who led a team on what he described as a “working visit” to the NCS headquarters in Abuja,
noted that the NCS is a critical agency in the facilitation of trade.
Other areas mentioned by the MAN President that, according to him, require intervention are; classification of goods, arbitrary upliftments in freight and insurance, issuance of PAAR on Semi Knocked Down (SKD) as Fully Built Units (FBU) and proper implementation of the fiscal policy, specifically the section activating the National list under Chapter 99 of the ECOWAS Common External Tariff (CET).
This section specifically reduces import duty for verifiable investors/manufacturers importing raw materials and other inputs, to stimulate growth in critical sectors of the economy.
According to the MAN President, the visit was aimed at seeking urgent intervention, seeing that manufacturers and the sector itself were experiencing hard times due to the looming global economic meltdown occasioned by COVID-19 and the Russia-Ukraine war.
In the domestic domain, Mansur Ahmed cited insecurity, the decline in crude oil revenues and lack of adequate supply of some critical goods among the reasons precipitating almost a collapse in the economy.
He, therefore, requested the intervention of the Nigeria Customs Service to help the sector survive these trying times.
Receiving the visitors, Comptroller-General of NCS, Col. Hameed Ali (rtd), while expressing gratitude for the visit, identified MAN as an important sector of the economy, noting that since oil no longer sustains the economy, the viability of the manufacturing sector must be given serious attention.
“I have directed all Zonal Coordinators to arrange monthly zonal meetings with MAN at different zones of the country for deliberations on how to help the manufacturing sector to grow” CGC reiterated.
The Customs boss said his team, going forward, would convey an annual meeting with the manufacturing sector to further propose ways and solutions that will sustain manufacturing and promote the export of processed goods.
Col. Ali assured the delegation that the management of the Nigeria Customs Service under his watch will proffer solutions to the issues raised as it is of benefit to the ultimate growth and development of the economy.
MAN was founded in 1971 with its headquarters in Lagos. The organisation’s main aim is the promotion of made-in-Nigerian products, advice and partnering with the government on infrastructural facilities needed by manufacturers to improve the brand presence of made-in-Nigerian products and encourage its members to produce products for the growth of the country.
