Some senior Customs officers have incurred the wrath of their Comptroller-General over alleged derelication of duty.
They were queried over alleged non-completion of the Single Goods Declaration (SGD) form C 2010 by some exporters before the cargoes were shipped out of the country.
The query was contained in a circular sent to Deputy Comptrollers-General (DCGs); Assistant Comptrollers-General (ACG); Customs Area Controllers (CAC) and Heads of Unit.
The circular signed by the DCG in charge of Tariff and Trade, Mr Julius Nwagwu said: “Reports reaching headquarters indicate that anomalies are prevalent in the clearance of exports through the ports/borders.”
Some of the anomalies are:
• Non-completion of the Single Goods Declaration (SGD Form C 2010) prior to exportation;
• Exportation of goods without Clean Certificate of Inspection (CCI) issued by the pre-shipment inspection agent;
• Inadequate attention by valuation officers on issues relating to value of export goods; and
• Non-rendition of monthly returns of all exports to headquarters.
In the letter, Nwagwu said: “The above anomalies among others are contrary to the provisions of the extant regulations/guidelines, particularly as contained in circular Nos 053/2004 of November 24, 2004 and 002/2011 of April 11, 2011.
These circulars, he said, were still extant and must be followed to the letter by those directed to. Non-compliance, he said, would not be tolerated.
Investigation showed that circular No. 53/2004 was signed by then DCG in-charge of Tariff and Trade, Mr S. O. Ogundeji and copied to DCGs, Zonal Co-ordinators, CACs and all Heads of Unit through a November 24, 2004 letter.
The circular said certain procedure must be observed by officers and agencies involved in the documentation of clearing of goods for export from Nigeria.
