Senate passes bill to re-enact Customs Act

The Senate on Wednesday passed a bill to repeal and re-enact the Customs and Excise Management Act 2004.

The passage of the bill followed the consideration of a report by the Committee on Customs, Excise and Tariffs. Chairman of the Committee, Senator Francis Alimikhena (Edo North), in his presentation, said the bill amongst others, seeks to assist the Nigeria Customs Service administration in driving economic growth and trade facilitation.

He added that the bill when signed into law would make the NCS a legal entity under the supervision of the Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning with a Board to serve Nigerians and facilitate international trade.

According to him, the bill which has 283 clauses, also seeks to bring the Customs and Excise Management Act in line with modern-day Customs operations globally; and provide for the NCS a consolidated single legal reference document instead of multiple enactments.

The lawmaker noted that the piece of legislation also makes provision for the use of electronic documents, electronic payments and other information technology that are applicable to modern Customs Administration.

The bill after a clause-by-clause consideration by the Committee of the Whole was passed by the chamber.