FG warns charity organisations over abuse of IDECs, as Customs confiscates N566m worth phones concealed in mosquito nets 

The Federal Ministry of Finance is advising Not-for-profit and Charity organisations and members of the public to exercise caution in  applying for Import Duty Exemption Certificates (IDECs) while receiving donations of relief materials from foreign donors.

It advised organizations to  ensure that the donations being received were  from genuine  partners.

The Federal  Government, the ministry said, would henceforth hold local charity organizations and their trustees responsible for  abuse  of IDECs  issued in respect of relief materials.

This warning followed a  recently discovered  case in which a charitable organization applied for and was granted IDEC for the importation of donated drugs for HIV treatment, anti-malarial drugs and mosquito nets but, which in the end, became abused.

An inspection by the Nigerian Customs Service detected that 5,900 units of high-end Samsung mobile phones and screen covers valued at over  N566 million were concealed within mosquito nets in the consignment.

The items, now seized and being prepared for prosecution, were neither listed on  the manifest nor detailed in the IDEC application.

Following the discovery, the Ministry of Finance and the Nigerian Customs Service amended the procedure for the issuance and extension of IDEC in respect of relief materials.

“Henceforth the NCS would  automatically conduct 100 per cent inspection on all donations for which IDECs have been  issued.

“In addition, prior to issuance of IDECs for relief donations, the Federal Ministry of Finance and the Nigeria Customs Service will  conduct more vigorous detailed background checks on both the  foreign donors and the trustees of local charity organizations.

“In addition  IDECs for relief materials will be valid for 180 days only, but can be reviewed if unused.”

In the meantime, the Finance Ministry and the Nigeria Customs Service have reiterated that Nigeria welcomes  and appreciates donations of relief materials but would work to prevent abuse by unscrupulous individuals determined to economically damage Nigeria by evading duties payable on commercial goods.