A seasoned economic expert, Musa Audu-Abubakar, has raised the alarm over the alleged illegalities taking place at the Nigerian Export Processing Zone in Kano, costing the Federal Government billions of naira in revenue.
Mr Audu-Abubakar, who raised the alarm while speaking with select newsmen on Tuesday in Kano, lamented that at a time when the country is battling with economic instability, finished goods are being diverted to the Nigerian Export Processing Zone for clearance.
According to the expert, the alleged illegality is taking place under the watch of some unpatriotic Customs officers.
He said: “Some businessmen are in the habit of diverting finished products to Nigerian Export Processing Zone Authority because they pay as little as 30% of the customs duty while the government lose billions of revenue.
“They pay as little as 30% of customs duty payable at the Kano Free Trade Zone, while they don’t pay sometimes because they settle the customs officers on duty.
“This is affecting the economy. The government is losing billions of naira until the needful is done,” he lamented.
Mr Audu-Abubakar explained that the Nigerian Export Processing Zone Authority/Kano Free Trade Zone, which is located at the Fanisau Area of Ungogo Local Government in Kano is solely responsible for clearing raw materials, not finished products.
“Taking finished products to the agency for clearance is illegal and against the law,” the expert emphasized.
“The last time I visited the Nigerian Export Processing Zone Authority, I saw that not less than 10 containers of finished products were being cleared in the evening. The question is what brought finished goods to the Nigerian Export Processing Zone?,” he quizzed.
Mr Audu-Abubakar, therefore, called on the federal government to deploy its enforcement mechanisms with a view to ensuring that all finished goods go through the appropriate channels.
“The federal government needs to act fast and enforce regulations so that anyone found guilty of sabotaging the effort of the government in generating deserved revenue,” he added.
