The Nigeria Customs Service has urged importers of vehicles and their agents to imbibe transparency while making declarations for their imported vehicles.
The Customs Area Comptroller in charge of the Ports & Terminal Multipurpose Limited, Saidu Yusuf, said this in a statement on Thursday, after a sensitisation meeting with the stakeholders at the command.
According to him, “Meetings like this are meant to rub minds, identify challenges, and jointly work out solutions on how best to resolve the challenges. The meeting is also in tandem with World Customs Organisation and World Trade Organisation trade facilitation thrusts which encourage consultations.”
He dismissed the rumour that the Vehicle Identification Number for the clearing of imported vehicles had been scrapped.
The PTML Customs boss reiterated an earlier position on the matter issued by the service that the VIN Valuation process remains fully operational and effective.
Yusuf explained that the trim numbers are critical in identifying distinct versions or tiers within a specific car model.
“They delineate varying configurations, features, and levels of equipment associated with different models,” he said.
The CAC said the trims of vehicles were not the same for all kinds while urging declarants to have their transaction values.
Yusuf blamed some declarants for inputting what they thought was the lowest base value which necessitated interventions like demand notices and alerts.
He advised them to apply invoice and transaction values as a way of promoting transparency and building integrity in the trade process of vehicle clearance.
