Mr Ken Ukaoha, the President, National Association of Nigerian Traders (NANTS), says cross border trade is key to economic recovery and revenue generation.
He said this in Abuja on Monday during a policy dialogue on combating corruption along Nigeria-ECOWAS trade routes.
Ukaoha, who said corruption along trade routes must be addressed, added that “unnecessary trade barriers created by non-transparent, burdensome rules and procedures which in turn constitute vulnerabilities, breed corrupt behaviours.
“Similarly, unnecessary delays in movement of goods continue to increase the burden of losses to operators, consumers, as well as diminish revenue to government coffers while increasing the cost of doing business.”
According to him, the aim of the dialogue is to strengthen integrity of border controls, customs administration and to strike a balance between security of lives and property and free movement of goods.
He said the dialogue would proffer practical recommendations toward facilitating free trade and to reduce corrupt practices.
Ukaoha added that traders, clearing agents and transporters on their part were not honest in their practice.
He explained that over-invoicing, under-declaration of goods, false declaration, illegal importation, trade vices such as smuggling, trafficking either in human or small arms,
as well as drug peddling were perpetuated daily along trade routes.
Ukaoha said “sometimes, the actors lure government agencies into unholy collaboration that tend to swindle government of potential or impending revenue.
“Some goods categorised as arms are sometimes allowed in with the collaboration
of officials and the country continues to bleed with insecurity, among others negative vices.
According to him, there is need to examine the practice of every actor in order to send
appropriate messages to appropriate quarters.
Mr Ekpo Nta, the Chairman, Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), said aside from poor infrastructure and corruption, abuse of procedure was often identified as most formidable cog in the nation’s desire to
maximise benefits from trade.
Nta, represented by Mr Akeem Lawal, Deputy Director, Corruption Monitoring and Eradication department in the commission, complained about corrupt practices such as extortion, bribery, intimidation and harassment by trade and product regulators and
enforcement officials across the land, sea and air borders.
He said “Federal Government and relevant agencies are aware of the importance of smooth trade facilitation that contributes to job creation and economic wellbeing of the people.
“This informed the commission to conduct Corruption Risk Assessment exercises in Nigerian seaports of Apapa, Tincan Island, Warri, Onne and Calabar.
“Others are international airports Lagos and Abuja, with the objective of assessing the nature of corrupt practices among officials and operational practices and procedures that dispose them to corruption.”
Nta emphasised that traders and businessmen must understand that they also had
critical roles to play to promote right conditions for corruption-free trade.
He said traders must obey regulations and practices that concerned exports and imports, pay appropriate charges and duties, obtain and provide required documentation.
The ICPC boss added that traders must avoid dealing in contrabands and controlled items and also have the responsibility to report demand and solicitation for bribe to appropriate agencies.
“It is when traders play by the rules that they have equity on their side.
“The haste to clear goods should not make them deviate from patriotic roles to sanitise the nation’s economic and trade environment.”
Mr Alexander Werth, the Head of Unit, Trade Policy and Facilitation of Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), also stressed the need for Federal Government to work toward reducing trade route corruption.
He advised traders to report any corruption that occurred as they export or import goods,
adding that traders should also have all the required documents to avoid any form of corrupt practices.
“The traders must have the relevant documents so that security agencies will not use it against them,’’ he said
Werth, of the German service provider GIZ, called for sensitisation and change of attitude from traders and security agencies.
He said law enforcement should move away from revenue generation to trade facilitation to make it easier for people to participate in economic activities and not to create unnecessary hardship. (NAN)