Aba chamber asks govt to stop VAT on imported goods

By Ijendu Iheaka

November 3, 2016

The Aba Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (ACCIMA) has called on the Federal Government to stop indiscriminate charges on imported goods.

The chamber said its members were being harassed by several agencies of the government at different points to pay VAT on goods brought in from other countries.

The Vice President of the chamber, Chief Jerry Kalu, said at a one-day workshop organised by the South East zone of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council in Aba that the charges constituted an aberration.

“VAT is charged on manufactured goods with added value but a situation where VAT is charged on imported goods, most of which are raw materials, seems to be an aberration.

“This issue needs to be looked into, Kalu said.”

He also asked the government to repatriate export proceeds from abroad, provide roads for transportation of goods and for the completion of the Ntigha Dry Port to decongest Onne Port.

The vice president also asked for a hault to the harassment from government agencies extorting the importers through their goods.

In her address, the Abia State Commissioner for Trade and Investment, Mrs Kate Nwosu, promised that the government would join hands with the Nigerian Shippers’ Council to ensure the promotion of made-in-Nigeria goods.

Nwosu, who was represented by the Director of Commerce in the ministry, Sir Sam Nwagbara, thanked the council for living up to expectation by enlightening exporters in the area.

Mr Akintunde Makinde, the Acting Director of Inland Transport Services at the Nigerian Shippers Council, said the workshop was organised for Aba business people because of their contribution to the nation’s economy.

Makinde said that following the port reforms of 2006, which gave the council an additional role as the regulator of ports, it had repositioned to establish an enabling environment for the sector.

He said there had been setbacks and achievements which included increased operational efficiency, infrastructural developments, security and safety of cargo and capacity building of operators.

The Zonal Cordinator of the council, Mr Christian Chimezie, said the workshop was aimed at engaging stakeholders and building capacity to enable them succeed in global shipping business.

He urged the stakeholders to collaborate with the council to proffer solutions to indentified challenges and liaise with the Federal Government to make shipping easier.

He thanked the Abia state government, the organised private sector, the chamber and other trade groups for supporting the council.

The Chairman of the occasion, Mr Alex Adaelu, said the major problem of the shippers in Aba was not with their international business partners but government agencies and their activities.

He urged the government agencies to do what was right and encourage the shipping trade in the country.