By Henry Umoru

ABUJA—THE Senate said, yesterday, that the 1958 law under which the Nigeria Customs Service had operated was no longer acceptable.

According to the Senate, the law does not mete out sufficient punishment for those who violate it and spoke about amending it.

Senate

The Senate said the repeal of the Customs Act would also help improve trade facilitation and service to the business community, the public at large and enhance the protection of society against smuggling, illegal weapons, narcotics, counterfeit goods, other trade-related crimes and money laundering.

Entitled A Bill for an Act to Repeal the Nigerian Customs Service Management Act (Repeal and Re-enactment), 2016, and sponsored by Senator Samuel Anyanwu (PDP, Imo East), the bill seeks to repeal the Customs and Excise Laws; to establish the Nigeria Customs Service, Reform the Administration and Management of Customs and Excise in Nigeria.

The bill, passed by the House of Representatives and is before the Senate for concurrence, was read for the first time in the Senate on Thursday, April 14.

In his lead debate, Senator Anyanwu said: “Customs administrations is globally recognised as a key indicator for driving economic growth by facilitating trade between countries.

“The administration of Customs occurs in a complex national, international and legal regulatory environment that influences the form and content of the national Customs Law 3 or regulations.

“Our dear country experienced many changes in government. Many regimes have come with different laws and political focuses. The Nigerian Custom Service is unarguably one of the oldest institution of government in this country, with the history stretching back as far as 1891.

“As a frontline organisation that contributes to security and economic growth, the service’s functions of collection of revenue and curtailing smuggling have remained crucial.”