The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has banned the clearance of pharmaceuticals from bonded terminals across the country over infractions.
The service, however, restricted clearance of pharmaceuticals to Apapa, Onne, Port and Terminals Multiservice Limited (PTML) seaports and Lagos International Airport.
Speaking to LEADERSHIP, the comptroller general of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, said pharmaceuticals would only be cleared at the nation’s seaports.
“We don’t expect pharmaceuticals in any other ports or warehouses except these ports. Also, pharmaceuticals will not be allowed to be stored in any of the bonded terminals and we will insist that all pharmaceutical products be handled at the seaports and not the bonded terminals.
“We won’t allow them to be taken to other ports or even sent to bound terminals. We have reviewed our policy of allowing bonded terminals to be used for the release of pharmaceutical products.
Henceforth, pharmaceutical products will not be allowed to be sent into any of those bonded terminals.
To enhance the effective implementation of this policy, we will insist that any pharmaceutical products must be cleared, duties must be paid, and inspection must be done at the border ports. We will no longer allow sending them down to the Upper North facilities. We can allow any other thing but because of the sensitive nature of pharmaceutical products and because of the abuse to which this process has been subjected in the past, they will only be allowed to be cleared in these ports designated as “ dock”
He listed the designated places as Apapa port, TinCan, Airport, and Onne port
The CGC equally disclosed that the process of issuing licenses to bonded terminals will be reviewed, while also doing a post audit on the activities of the bonded terminals, stressing that any bonded terminals found culpable in illegal deals will have their license revoked.
”We will no longer allow stemming vessels down into off-dock facilities. We can allow any other thing but because of the sensitive nature of pharmaceutical products and because of the abuse to which this concession has been subjected in the past, they will only be allowed or cleared in these four designated places: Apapa Port (right inside the port), Onne Port, PTML and at the International Airport. We’ll no longer allow them to be taken into bonded terminals.”
Explaining the Service’s position regarding current licensing fees, he stated that the current licensing fees for bonded terminals in operation stand to be reviewed as they no longer align with current realities, having been in place for about a decade.
”The increase in the fee of the license has to be such that it will be difficult or impossible for those who are not serious to own and operate a bonded terminal.
”So, we are already in the process of reviewing the license fee. We will carry the stakeholders along and do things that will reflect current situations.”
