The Nigeria Customs Services (NCS) has explained why a Nigerian female passenger, Mrs. Udensi Adaeze Nwagboliweb was at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja asked to pay a duty of N165, 692.25k on two items found with her on arrival at the airport.
The female passenger according to a statement made available to the media by the spokesperson at NCS Joseph Attah, a Deputy Comptroller of Customs, said the passenger was intercepted with two pieces of items, a pair of shoes and a piece of bag, both of Loius Vuitton brand, which she claimed were personal effect and couldn’t produce the receipts when asked to do so
Nwagboloeb, according to Attah, had declared the items as personal effects and attempted to evade paying the required duties on them. However, when the operatives of NIS went online to determine the true value of the items they were valued at N570,467.40k and she was therefore asked to pay the appropriate duty assessment of N165, 692.25k into Federal Government coffer.
“To put the record straight, especially as she maliciously introduced gender, tribal and other unnecessary sentiments into what was simply a case of being told to pay duty as what was in her possession was far above the allowable value of N50,000.00 and certainly beyond what normal discretion would allow.
“Upon routine search of this passenger’s luggage, operatives discovered a Loius Vuitton bag and shoe. Obviously knowing the luxury brand (Loius Vuitton), she was asked to produce the receipt which will be the bases for duty calculation or not. She could not produce the receipt of what she claimed she bought at the duty free shop at the point of departure, saying the receipt was with her husband who did not travel with her.
“The officers had to take the long route of ascertaining the current worth of her items through the internet. The luxury items were found to be worth N570,467.40k.
“Consequently, appropriate duty assessment of N165, 692.25k was made and given to her to pay into Federal Government coffer. Since she could not immediately go and pay, a detention notice was given to her showing that the items will remain with the Nigeria Customs Service until she pays and brings evidence of payment before they will be released to her.
“Instead of paying the assessed duty and pick up her items or request to see any superior officer should she have any reservation on the assessed value,” Attah explained
The NIS spokesman who said the service is unaware of the outcry of many Nigerians on allowable amount of N50,000.00, insisted, “but until the law is changed, Nigeria Customs Service will continue to enforce the extant law that says personal effects shall not exceed the value of N50,000.00. Anything more than the approved value is considered Merchandise in Baggage and therefore liable for duty payment”.
He therefore called on members of the public to disregard these conjectures even as he gave assurances of NIS’ resolve to treat all Nigerians with deserved courtesy and respect in the discharge of its statutory functions.
