Customs boss commends Beninoise counterpart for improving vehicle transfer

Barely three weeks into the commencement of the new vehicle transit regime at Seme border, Customs Area Comptroller, Seme Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Comptroller Willy Egbudin, said there has been an improvement in the number of vehicles transferred to the command by the Beninoise Customs.Speaking in a chat with journalist at Seme command, Egbudin debunked claims that personnel of the Benin Customs are frustrating the scheme, pointing out that the customs administrations of both countries enjoy cordial relationship.He said the handing over of imported vehicles by the Benin Customs to their Nigerian counterparts would not have any effect on the economy of Benin Republic.'They are not frustrating the scheme. It is even better for them because if there is collaboration between ECOWAS countries, it means they are also collaborating with us to ensure that we fight against insecurity,' he said.While acknowledging that the scheme was having some teething problems, Egbudin assured that the customs management was working hard to address the situation.'Anything that has a new beginning will always have a little problem but we are fine-tuning it,' he said.The Republic of Benin Customs Administration commenced handing over of imported vehicles to Nigeria Customs Service personnel at Seme border early this month.The move was in adherence to the Economic Community of West African States transit regime to stem the high rate of smuggling of imported vehicles from the Republic of Benin into Nigeria and its attendant revenue loss to the government.
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