Chinese loan: Reps uncover N5bn illegal waivers for Chinese firm

••••Query MDAs for breach of due process

••••demand list of over 600,000 companies from Customs for not paying import duty levies

Abuja___The controversy around the loans obtained from China assumed a disturbing dimension as the House of Representatives yesterday uncovered N5bn waiver illegally obtained by a Chinese firm.

Chairman, House Committee on Public Accounts, Hon. Wole Oke made the disclosure while speaking at the investigative hearing into the audit query issued by the office of the Auditor General of the Federation (oAuGF) against Nigeria Customs Service (NSC).

The Committee was livid with the various regulatory agencies that approved such waivers in breach of due process and extant financial regulations.

Oke said that the waivers have a huge negative impact on the economy as it has left it bleeding.

He urged the various standing committees of the House to step up their oversight functions to prevent such aberrations.

He said: “The solution is that we should step up our oversight and ensure that nobody is undermining the revenue accruing to this country, either through these schemes I’ve mentioned or fraudulently.

“Like in the case of China Harbour, China Harbour got a contract in Nigeria through contract financing and then you are claiming Duty Waiver of over N5 billion on items and materials that are available in Nigeria. They are importing them, they kill local industries, you are injuring us from both ends.

”We just have to resolve that the MD of China Harbour should cause appearance. All they are trying to do is to cover-up when it comes to capital flight they don’t mind, but when it comes to accountability they are running away. And those who granted the Duty waiver we must ask them and that’s why we invited the Ministry of Finance to cause the appearance to come and defend the duty waiver they gave to you.

“A company that is bringing in cement when there is Dangote Plc producing in Obajana, we have in Okpella, Ewekoro, Ibesi and they also pay the duty, meanwhile they charge Dangote duty when they bring equipment!

“As we speak today, do you how many ships are berthed today. Who cares?”

The committee also frowned at waivers given to some international companies and public quoted companies granted during 2014 and 2020

It, therefore, directed the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment to provide evidence of the capital allowance certificates granted to over 600,000 companies and other relevant documents during the period under review.

“Federation Account is nose-diving and they (oAuGF) asked us that, why are we not filing the revenue profile of Customs? They said it should be audited, that’s what they said.

“And so we called Customs and Customs came and presented the list. There are a lot of things like tax avoidance, tax avoidance is lawful but we are only checking the abuses. So that is what we are doing in a situation where you are based in Nigeria, import from France for example and the documents emanate from Mauritius! So all we want to establish is the goods from the manufacturer, is it the same pricing that is comes with from the manufacturer?”

“Some multinational companies indulge in the abuse of tax avoidance, transfer service schemes and they use that to undermine revenue generation in Nigeria.

“So some of these companies float subsidiaries in tax haven countries and some of these companies are 100% owned by them; so they operate through their subsidiaries. The prices at which they buy from the manufacturers are not what is contained in the shipping documents. So by doing, they can even cut down 50% of duty that they ought to have paid to Nigeria.

“And that is the issue the Auditor General is raising that collections by Nigeria Customs, collections by FIRS, the remittance by DPR and NNPC is nose-diving and that we should check it.

“They are even particular about Customs that we should audit it and that is why we invited Nigeria Customs; and Nigeria Customs availed us in response to the Committee’s invitation submitted list of over 600,000 companies, and like I said there is no how we can invite over 600,000 companies, we don’t even have the budget because it will cost us N1.2 billion to write them. So we have to do sampling to conform the fiat in the issues raised by Auditor General”, Oke said.

The Committee also resolved to summon Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and Secure and Anchorage Company responsible for the collection of revenue ranging between $3,000 to $4,000 per vessel at the ports.

In their separate presentations, representatives of the companies invited, including A-Z Petroleum who have subsidiary companies; Longman (now Learn Nigeria) said the receipt of capital allowances on some transactions carried out including books imported for free and printed overseas.

In his ruling, Oke directed the Chairman of Federal Inland Revenue Services to make available the records of A-Z Petroleum and its subsidiary companies, submit copies of audited accounts, capital allowances claims, and tax certificates issued.

He also directed the Clerk to write to the Corporate Affairs Commission, CAC Registrar General to make available the records of A-Z Petroleum and the affiliate companies, the Particulars of Directors and Shareholders amid their yearly income.