Nigerians have called for transparency as the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) reopens its electronic auction portal (e-auction) on January 15 for public participation.
Recall that the NCS had, in July 2017, launched the e-auction portal, which was suspended due to overwhelming complaints from users as well as hacking.
The NCS said it generated N49 million and recorded 254 winners of various auctions in four weeks across the country.
The NCS has also extended the participation to its officers and owners of the seized items, while urging interested participants to carefully consider and abide by the terms of this e-auction.
The NCS said the public should sign up at https://auction.nigeriatrade hub.gov.ng as the portal opens on Monday, while auction dwell time is six hours every Tuesday – from 12 noon to 6pm.
The National Public Relations Officer of the Association of Registered Freight Forwarders of Nigeria (AREFFN), Taiwo Fatomilola, said it was a welcome development but must be a free and fair process.
He expressed fear over low transparency in the process, saying: “I hope those who will apply and become the winners will not be the same set of people they have been giving from the commencement of the platform, which marred the process five years ago. It is supposed to be a free and fair process. I know nothing works in Nigeria, but I hope this one will work.”
The Manager of Client Services of Inspired Cars, Iwayeye Olatunji, commended the exercise, noting that if the process is going to be 100 per cent electronic, it will reduce human influence to the lowest level.
He urged the Customs boss to ensure there is no form of manipulation as experienced, adding that a 50 per cent efficiency will be fair to the public.
The President of the National Council of Managing Director of Licensed Customs Agents (NCMDLCA), Lucky Amiwero, said some consignments have been in the ports for some time, adding that the owners should be allowed to bid for them.
In the participation process, the NCS stated that the interested public should possess a valid tax identification number (TIN) from the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), which is validated on Tax Promax and an active email.
The NCS said there must be prompt payment, 7.5 per cent value-added tax (VAT) and a refundable container deposit (if applicable).
On the fees and payments, the customs service said the public should pay a non-refundable administrative fee of N1,000 via the platforms channel, adding that each bid attracts a participation fee of N1,000.
