NIGERIA CUSTOMS SERVICE ISSUES FIRST PAAR

Less than 24 hours after the take over of Destination Inspection Scheme, the Ruling Centre of the Nigeria Customs Service has issued the first Pre Arrival Assessment Report (PAAR). The document which replaces the Risk Assessment Report issued by erstwhile Service Providers is a mandatory requirement for imports into Nigeria.

The issuance of the first PAAR was announced by the Comptroller- General of Customs, Dikko Inde Abdullahi at a Town Hall meeting held with Traders in Lagos to sensitize them on the new scheme. He told the cheering crowd that the expeditious issuance of the document is indicative of the level of preparedness of the Nigeria Customs Service to handle the scheme.

"we have invested a lot preparing for this feat. Service Providers took a minimum of 5 working days to issue their RAR. We convinced Government that we can produce the replacement in 6 hours. Now we have achieved that in less than an hour", the Comptroller-General told the Traders.

According to the Updates released from the Customs Ruling Centre in Abuja, the name of the historic PAAR's Importer/Beneficiary was given as WAAZ ULTIMATE GLOBAL LINK Limited of #10 Herbert Macaulay Street, Yaba Lagos. It was numbered CN20130017589/001.

The document covers an importation of a 40-foot Container of Children Educational toys and glass cup procured from Hong Kong China.

Agent to the Importer, Alhaji Usman Baba expressed his joy that his Final Documents churned out the First ever PAAR from the Ruling Centre. Alhaji Baba told Journalists in Lagos that he had some apprehensions when submitting the documents.

" it was the first working day , and many of us thought Customs will find it difficult coping with the rush. I was surprised when I got a call from Abuja that my PAAR was ready. Since the consignment was routed to Green, it means 48-Hour clearance is possible under the new system", Alhaji Baba declared.

He said he is in touch with the Importer, who has promised to ensure immediate payment of the Customs duty.

Following the expiration of the Contracts for operation of Destination Inspection by Service Providers, the Federal Government of Nigeria had directed an immediate take over of the scheme by the Nigeria Customs Service. Components of the scheme taken over by Customs include management of Scanning operations in designated Ports, airports and Border stations in Nigeria.


SIGNED
Wale Adeniyi
Public Relations Officer,
For:Comptroller-General of Customs.

https://www.customs.gov.ng/Publications/news_results.php?NewsID=186