IMAN urges FG to mandate importer registration to curb arms proliferation, substandard goods

The Importers Association of Nigeria (IMAN) has called on the Federal Government to enact legislation mandating the registration of all importers.

The move, according to the association, aims to enhance national security, curb the influx of small arms and light weapons and elimination of substandard and prohibited goods.

Speaking in an exclusive chat with Maritime Today Online, the Administrative Secretary of IMAN (South West Zone) and ex-officio member, Frank Ukor, argues that the current lack of a mandatory registry for importers makes it difficult to track the influx of illicit items.

He emphasized that identifying who is who in the trade chain is the first step toward a safer border.

“We are advocating that the government should help make sure every importer is registered so that it is easy to control what comes into this country,.
If importers are registered, the proliferation of small arms will be better managed before it even reaches the borders or ports.” he said.

Ukor noted that while the era of strict import licenses is in the past, a modern registration framework would allow the government and IMAN to track importers of prohibited or substandard goods as well as provide Customs and the Police with a database to streamline investigations.

“The National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and the Maritime Workers Union is backed by the government. If the government can do that for road transport workers, it can do that for importers. We are not asking for a return to the old import licensing regime but a modern registration system to bring all imporers under one umbrella, “Ukor said.

IMAN proposed that the Ministry of Trade and Investment should lead the charge, creating a legal framework that requires importers—starting with those in Lagos due to its proximity to major seaports—to register with the association.

Meanwhile, the association has expressed concern over being sidelined in major policy implementations by government agencies.

Ukor criticized the exclusion of importers from the ongoing end-user training for the National Single Window project, pointing out that many importers possess licenses for self-clearance and must be trained to navigate the digital platform so as to monitor their consignments from their offices.

The association also called on the Nigerian Shippers’ Council to intervene regarding the recent fee hikes by shipping companies and terminal operators, who have engaged the agents but ignored the cargo owners who bear the financial burden.

“They have engaged the agents, but they are neglecting the owners of the cargo. Importers are the owners of the goods; they pay the money. They should be engaged so we can be on the same page, ” he said.

The association also sought clarity from the Nigeria Customs Service regarding the continued collection of 4% Free on Board (FOB) charges, despite previous government directives to halt implementations.

The association is asking for a clear categorization of goods that still fall under this charge to properly advise its members.

Ukor announced plans by the association to launch an aggressive awareness campaign to lobby traders at major markets and trade fairs, encouraging them to register voluntarily to foster a more transparent and professional importing environment.