Kayode ShopekanTHE Nigeria Customs Service (NSC) has released a memo listing conditions that customs brokers must comply with before subletting their licences to others.
Customs brokers also known as clearing agents must statutorily be licensed by the NCS before they can be involved in the clearance of goods at the airport, seaport, and land border. However, very few clearing agents in Nigeria possess the requisite customs licences, hence, they resort to subletting.
In the memo dated 15th July 2021 and titled ‘Subletting of Agency Licence’, the Deputy Controller, Revenue at the Tin Can Island Port Command of NCS, DC K.I. Adeola, said the holder of a sublet Customs licence will be held responsible for irregularities detected in the use of the licence.
The memo reads: “Sequel to the rising issues of declarants subletting their agency licence, the following decision has been taken: Any declarant who sublets his/her agency license should endeavor to ensure that all assessment attached to such SGD is duly paid.
“Any form of irregularities with the documentation on the SGD, the owners of the agency will be held responsible. Note that failure to comply with the directive would attract sanctions on defaulting agencies.”
SGD, which refers to the Single Goods Declaration form, is a Customs document, which shows unabridged details of imported or exported goods.
In Nigeria, SGD is obtained electronically by the importer or customs broker through the Direct Trader Input (DTI) café operated by the Nigeria Customs Service.
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