By citybusinessnews@yahoo.com —
Agents and representatives of some firms in Rivers State, on Friday, accused the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Onne Command, of allegedly frustrating efforts to export processed Technically Specified Natural Rubber (TSNR).
According to the agents, several containers of processed Technically Specified Natural Rubber are presently being delayed “because we refused to pay N150,000 bribe per container.“
But, the NCS has denied the bribery allegation, adding that a detention notice has been issued for the containers .
The command’s Public Relations Officer, DSC Ifeoma Ojekwu, also challenged anybody with evidence of bribery allegations to come forward with it.
Speaking onbahalf of the Agents and firms, representaive of the Agents who prefered to remain annonymous said: “ This is not the first time we are exporting processed Technically Specified Natural Rubber (TSNR).
“During the process of customs inspection this time, the Customs officers refused to grant clearance, claiming that the product is an un-processed raw rubber.
“We later sent the samples of processed rubber and raw cup lumps for checking from our rubber factory. The customs officials understood the difference and agreed that the rubber in the container is a processed TSNR and the issue was resolved.
“Later, they came up with a point saying that the code nominated to this product is under the prohibition list and that they cannot release the containers for export.
“We (Agents) explained that the code is okay. We were asked to go for a meeting with CIU (customs intelligence Unit) on several occasion and final meeting was on 02/11/2021“.
Speaking in a similar vein, another Agent appealed to the Comptroller General of Customs, the Minister of Finance and President Muhammadu Buhari to intervene,“We have been exporting. This is processed Technically Specified Natural Rubber we are talking about “.
Responding to the allegations, DSC Ifeoma Ojekwu in a statement sent to City Business News said: “On the export of wood and allied products, I wish to inform you that there is extant directive from our headquarters since late May 2021 that such exports be suspended and the Customs Area Controller directed full compliance.
“Before you made inquiry today, eight containers were detained with their particulars duly recorded in the station diary as at 13:24hours on Friday November 5, 2021.
“Their HS Code declaration falls under schedule 6 of Common External Tariff which is export prohibition. Rubber is an allied product of wood which is a prohibition under export.
“On the allegation of officers demanding 150,000 as contained in your WhatsApp inquiry, this looks untrue to the best of our knowledge. Should you have specific details and particulars of the individual officers involved, please bring them forward.
“Accept the assurances of my Controller that no officer will ever demand for money from importers, exporters and their agents for any cause”.
