The House of Representatives Committee on Customs and Excise has frowned at what it called gross abuse of temporary importation license by corporate bodies in the country, while calling for the abolition of the system.

Also, the House Committee said it will invite the concessionaires of the Customs Modernisation Project, TMP Limited and the Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale to explain when the expected customs scanners are expected to arrive.

Chairman of the Committee, Leke Abejide who spoke when he led members of the Committee on an oversight of Customs Commands in Zone C said the abuse of temporary importation license is denying the government of several billions of naira annually.

Abejide said it is unfortunate corporate bodies and individual import goods such as aircraft among others into the country under the temporary importation scheme without paying duties, use such items for sever years while the government loses revenue.

He gave an example with Zenith Bank which imported an aircraft into the country under temporary importation, used it for several years, then return it and brought in another aircraft without paying duties.

He said, “The other day, the Group Managing Director of Zenith Bank called me to complain that Customs refused them using their aircraft. They brought in an aircraft, used it for several years, returned and brought in another one without paying duties.

“That has to stop. We will look into this issue or temporary importation which has coursed the country trillions of naira. We will look into five years back and recover all the money for government.

“We will also move for the abolition of this temporary importation. We will ensure that when you bring your goods, you pay the required duties. After that, you can return it if you like”.

Speaking on the lack of scanners at the various ports, Abejide explained that under the Customs modernisation projects, the concessionaires were supposed to provide scanners for the Nigeria Customs service.

He said the House Committee will invite the concessionaires and the Comptroller General of Customs to find out when exactly the scanners will arrive the country.

He said without the scanners the customs finds it difficult to effectively carry out the duties as several items escape the Customs in the process of carrying out 100 percent physical inspection.

Addressing the demands of the Comptroller of the Eastern Marine Command, Abejide said the House will ensure that their needs are meet as their operation was very important to the survival of the nation.

He told them to up their game in the fight against oil bunkering and oil theft which he said has reduced the oil production of the country.

Abejide also said that his committee will work with the Customs high command to ensure the provision of a solar mini grid for all customs formations to reduce the high cost of electricity and power failure that may hamper their operations.

Comptroller of the Eastern Marine, Chika Dim had told the committee that inferior firepower of the service is hampering their fight against oil theft, adding that while those engaged in oil theft are equipped with GPMG, officers of the service are operating only with AK 47.

One of the customs stakeholders, Mike Egbuato told the committee that there was the need to correct what he called freight imbalance affecting the operations of the Customs in the zone. (The Nation)