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Tag: Col. Hameed Ali (rtd)

  • Customs chief gets 72-hour ultimatum on task forces

    Freight forwarders operating in the Lagos Western Zone, yesterday issued a 72- hour ultimatum to the Federal Government to call the Comptroller-General of Customs, Col Hameed Ali (rtd) to order. They specifically want Ali to address the multiplicity of customs task forces at the ports.

    They threatened  to withdraw their services from the port if their demand was not met by nest week Monday.

    Speaking at a joint press briefing in Apapa yesterday, various associations which include Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) and National Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents, accuesd the customs chief of deploying a team from Abuja to micro-manage the activities of the various commands.

    The freight forwarders identified 10 various units of customs constituting bottlenecks inside the port to include CG Strike Force, Compliance Team, Federal Operations Unit (FOU), Monitoring,  Special Force, CG Task Force, Information Team, Customs Police, among others.

    The development which spiked tension in the port was the recent deployment of a special team from Abuja to inspect third party cargoes.

    Tin Can Chapter Chairman of ANLCA, Prince Segun Oduntan said the CG committee was sent to Apapa port last Thursday under the guise of inspecting some third party containers. He however said the team has taken over the job of the customs officers in the command.

    As a result of this development, he alleged that cargoes are now detained inside the ports while agents are made to pay exorbitant demurrage to terminal operators. He said the 24 -hour cargo clearance is now a mirage as a result of this anomaly.

    But responding, spokesman of  the NCS, Joseph Attah, said the Service’s anti-smuggling activities are anchored on three layers: the Command resident officers, FOU and the Headquarters Strike Force.

    “As a responsive organisation, NCS will continue to look forward to credible information about any team or officer that may be involved in an unethical practice for appropriate disciplinary action(s). NCS cherishes the existing  cordial  relationship with importers/agents and other relevant stakeholders whose activities have symbiotic impacts.

    Accordingly, management is open to any engagement that is aimed at enriching the system while not infracting on extant laws,” Attah explained.

    Attah said while the Service welcomes constructive criticism and suggestions that will help the course of making Nigeria a friendly  investment destination, however, blanket accusation and even call for dissolution of otherwise hard working and highly productive out fit such as the HQ strike force known for making high profile seizures of ammunitions, drugs, rice, vehicles etc appears suspect.

    Also speaking, Western Zone Coordinator of NAGAFF, Tanko Ibrahim, said agents have complained to the Customs area controllers who appeared powerless and directed the operators to channel their complaints to the CG in Abuja.

    “Last week, we saw officers from Abuja who said they were sent to the terminals to inspect some third party containers. But since then, they have remained permanent inside the port.

    “They now randomly select ‘C’ numbers of containers and after cargoes have been released, they would ask you to reposition it for examination and we are made to pay for re-examination,” he said.

     

     

  • We can’t be cowed to relax, Customs vows

    The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Thursday sent a chilling message to opponents to underscore its fierce implementation of any-smuggling war that no amount of blackmail would force it abdicate its duty.

    There has been a social media onslaught on the activities of the service since the present Comptroller-General, Col. Hameed Ali rtd, changed the old order, intensified transparency and rule of law in the organization.

    Read Also:Suspected kidnappers of customs officer nabbed

    Those that benefited from the spoils in the old order are however, fighting with everything in their capacity to reverse the trend.

    But the Public Relations Officer, Mr. Joseph Attah, who spoke with The Nation in his office Thursday, countered the “insinuations,” of the critics, describing them as measures to mislead the public to force the NCS to chicken out of its enforcement of the anti-smuggling law.

    The spokesman, who listed the pace-setting achievements of Ali’s led Customs to include the generation of the highest ever N1.037 trillion last year and definitely surpassing that figure this year.

    Seizure of 2,671 pump action raffle last year, the last week seizure of 59 containers of tramadol and other controlled drugs across the commands.

    He submitted that “it becomes questionable if it is at this time that the people will choose to say otherwise. We are not surprised because we understand that the new style of doing things blocks the interest of certain people.

    “So, they may consider this particular time when the service is being celebrated for spectacular  performances to insinuate nepotism, non-trade facilitation, corruption and other vices,  just to cast the service in bad light and cause confusion to bring darkness where there is light. But darkness cannot exist where there is light.

    “This is the new Nigeria Customs Service under the CGC, Col. Hammed Ali rtd. The service that is discipline focused and determined to serve Nigerians better. I therefore urge the general public not to be distracted from supporting the service to serve the nation better.”

    The social media publications, according to him, are alleging that there are goods in the warehouse because the Comptroller-General has refused to allow the appointed auctioneers to auction them or allow Customs Area Comptrollers to auction them.

    The Public Relations Officer said that “it clearly shows lack of understanding of the process. For the avoidance of doubt, auctioning of seized goods is the statutory function of the service in line with section 167, (2) of the Customs and Excise Management Act CAP 45 LFM 2004.”

    Attah said that in view of the performance of the service under the current administration, it calls to question the intention of the critics, as Customs generates more revenue now than it has ever  generated in its over 100 years of existence.

    Attributing the rise in revenue generation to the commitment of the officers to put national interest above personal interest, he said “in Apapa we did not just seized 40 containers, we paraded the three suspects and the N150 million bribe money that was rejected”

    He also noted that contrary to such people say, no Customs officer now needs any connection to get promoted as it is all based on merit.

    He added that no officer is so allowed to remain in a particular beat of operation for over three years unlike the previous practice when officers could spend eight years in a particular beat.

    This is to avoid over familiarity that could lead to compromise.

    On auctioning of the customs goods, the spokesman said that since 3rd July, 2017, the Comptroller-General of Customs introduced the e-auction platform to eliminate the sharp practices that were associated with the manual process of the past. The e auction enhances maximum revenue generation and gives Nigerians equal opportunities.

    According to him, the e-auction guarantees the security of the revenue.

     

     

  • 99 percent importers evade duty, says Customs boss

    99 percent importers evade duty, says Customs boss

    The Comptroller-General, Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Col. Hameed Ali (Rtd) Thursday said that 99 per cent of the nation’s importers are non-compliant with the customs duty and charges.

    According to him, the importers are unpatriotic to Nigeria even when they pay duty to other countries they deny theirs its dues.

    Ali, who was speaking as the Chief Host at the public presentation of the book “Appraisal of Crime of Smuggling in Nigeria,” in Abuja, pointed out that the belief of a typical Nigerian, is that he does not owe his country any obligation.

    Narrating his encounter with an importer, who settled all the charges for two cars  in Benin Republic and Niger Republic and evaded Nigeria’s, he said that  “somebody picked up two cars from Benin Republic, when he landed in Benin he paid every charges, he move them to Niger, and paid every charges he is supposed to pay.

    “But those cars are destined for Nigeria. When he now comes to Nigeria, he decided to take an un-costumed route and brought those cars to Nigeria. And when we did apprehend those vehicles the question I asked him is why are you so unpatriotic?

    “You could pay to Benin Republic, you could pay to Niger, and then coming to your own home, you don’t want to pay. He said the duty is too high.

    “And I said then why did you buy the two cars in the first place?  This is the mentality of the Nigerian; he does not believe that he owes anything to his own country.”

    The country, he said, cannot make progress in a situation, where people are not complying with the law and unfortunately, all that Nigerians think is how to circumvent the law.

    He commended the author of the book, Musa Omale for not allowing his knowledge, experience and writing skills to die.

    The customs boss noted that the book has made the job of the NCS easier and enjoined all the stakeholders to buy and read it.

    He assured the author that the Nigeria Customs Service will deploy copies of the books to its libraries and commands.

    Speaking with journalists, immediate past president of Association of Nigerian License Customs Agents, Chief Ernest Elochukwu noted that book is an exposure of the dimension of smuggling and the laws that are in place to tackle it.

    He said that the fight against smuggling can also be viewed from other angles like the creation of an enabling environment that does not promote smuggling.

    This, he said, government can achieve that by making sensible policies in terms of what it bans and does not ban.

    He submitted that “when there is so much of ban in the list of items that could be imported into the country, especially if they are essential items, the issue of smuggling becomes inevitable.”

    Meanwhile, the author said that what motivated him is that he has been in the Customs for past 26 years and as an experience officer about the level of damage of smuggling to the economy and decided to turn his research for PhD on smuggling into a book.

  • Turkey vows to fish out exporters of illegal arms to Nigeria

    Turkey vows to fish out exporters of illegal arms to Nigeria

    The Turkish Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Halal. Cakil  Tuesday vowed that his country will fish out the criminals behind the shipping of illegal arms to Nigeria.

    The envoy made the pledge in his meeting with the management of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) in Abuja.

    At the meeting, NCS Comptroller-General, Col. Hameed Ali (rtd) expressed concern that four different arm seizures with a total of 2,671 pump action riffles came from one source.

    He put it to the envoy that since the seizure emanated from the same Turkey, it appears to suggest complicity of Turkish authority.

    The Public Relations of the Service Mr. Joseph Attah made this disclosure in a statement Tuesday.

    The statement noted that the meeting lasted for about two hours from which the two parties spelt out specific commitments and strategies to contain the situation.

    Highlights of the meeting, said Attah, were that the “Turkish Ambassador restated his country’s support for Nigeria’s security and well-being, saying that Turkey will not support any dangerous shipment to Nigeria.

    “That all four shipments intercepted were false declarations on the bills of lading, it is a clear case of smuggling.

    “The Turkish Ambassador will immediately communicate to his home country, findings from the NCS HQ, with view to fishing out criminals behind the illegal arm shipment to Nigeria.

    “That a team of Nigeria Customs Service, visits the Turkish Customs to further discuss ways of nipping such arms export from Turkey as well as strengthening agreement on mutual customs to customs assistance.

    “That NCS provides for the Turkish authority, list of prohibited items and in the case foams, sample of End User Certificate to enable them always verify before approving any legal arms export to Nigeria.

    “That the Turkish Government will co-operate with Nigeria in every step to deal decisively with those found involved.”

    The statement added that the meeting ended with both sides agreeing to work together to stop the dangerous trend.

    Both side, according to Attah, agreed to use the situation as opportunity to strengthen tides to prevent the use of either country as a base for export of harmful.

  • Customs redeploy 48 officers

    Customs redeploy 48 officers

    In an ongoing reform at the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), The Controller General of Customs Col. Hameed Ali (Rtd) has approved the redeployment of some controllers of customs.

    This was contained in a statement issued on Thursday by The NCS Public Relations Officer, Joseph Attah.

    According to the statement, in a major re-jigging of the Service for effective and efficient service delivery, the Comptroller-General of Customs approved the redeployment of 48 Comptrollers of the service. 

    It also revealed that some of the officers who have been moved includes:Comptroller Madugu, M.J from Sokoto/Kebbi/Zamfara to Ogun Command, Comptroller Udo-aka, E.A from Investigation to Oyo/Osun Command and Compt. Isiyaku, K from Tariff and Trade to Port Harcourt 1 among others. 

    According to the statement, the Comptroller-General’s Compliance team has been disbanded and a new team reconstituted. The new Compliance team is divided into three. Team A for Western Axis, B for Northern axis and C for Eastern axis. They are to complement the Federal Operations Units in order to vigorously crackdown on all forms of smuggling activities nationwide with particular focus on the enforcement of non-importation of rice and vehicles through the land borders.

    The new CGC’s Compliance team will be coordinated by Comptroller Azarema, A.A who before now has been the Comptroller License and Permit at the NCS HQ. The Axis will be led by Assistant Comptrollers of Customs.

    While calling on relevant stake holders to support the service by being compliant, the CGC expressed his determination to strategically re-position the Service as a crucial contributor to the success story of the nation,he added that all revenues must be collected, leaving no room for leakages. 

  • Customs distributes 136, 476 bags of rice to IDPs camps

    Customs distributes 136, 476 bags of rice to IDPs camps

    The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has distributed 136, 476 bags of rice in the last one year to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps in the Northeast and Benin.

    Mr Joseph Attah, Public Relations Officer of the Service, announced this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Abuja.

    The distribution of relief materials by the NCS to the IDPs camps across the country was in compliance with presidential directive to distribute seized perishable items to IDPs in the North-East.

    He said that the reinstatement of the ban on rice importation through the land borders few months after lifting it in 2016 was to stem the tide of rice smuggling.

    Attah said that between Jan. 1, and March 31, the service had made a seizure of 136,506 (50kg) bags of rice from different land borders.

    “I can assure you that our anti-smuggling strategy is yielding positive dividend in the last three months (January to March), we seized a total of 136, 506 50kg bags of rice.

    “The last one year (March 2016 to March 2017), we made a seizure of 205, 825 bags with a duty paid value of over N1 billion, that is just rice alone.

    “To build another layer of policing, we have what we call the compliance team, which made a total of 921 seizures with a Duty Paid Value of over N1 billion, most of these seizures are rice and then vehicles,’’ he said.

    Attah said that customs in its fight against rice smugglers had record successes, adding that the service had paid great prices, especially in the area of loss of the lives of its officers.

    He said that the Comptroller-General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ali (Rtd.), had adopted holistic approach in fighting smuggling in the country.

    Attah said that beyond seizing and arresting smugglers, the service had been in the fore front of educating the public about the unwholesome nature of these rice because of the method used in smuggling them.

    “The idea is to protect Nigerians and shift taste to locally produced rice.

    “We believe that when there is no patronage, there will be no smuggling.

    “Therefore, it is disturbing to see people who should rather invest their energy in a profitable venture of providing intelligence to the service to protect their businesses, national economy and security engaging in smuggling,’’ he explained.

    He said that the service was investigating the information that some rich individuals allegedly buy motorcycles and handsets for unemployed youths to monitor the movement of Customs patrol men and gives information that aide smuggling of rice.

    “There were cases when villagers were mobilised to attack and block officers when they were carrying seized rice to the station.

    “They use such confusion as smoke screen to inform smugglers to follow another route, just to beat the check and achieve their criminal venture,” he added.

    Attah, therefore, called on Nigerians to desist from smuggling, adding that any country where smuggling activities was high, it kills the economy.

  • Senate compels Customs boss to appear Thursday

    Senate compels Customs boss to appear Thursday

    The Senate has compelled the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Col. Hameed Ali (rtd) to appear before the upper legislative body Thursday.

    This is coming just as the Customs boss stated in a letter he wrote to the President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki, that the controversial policy on car import tariff policy has been put on hold.

    After reading the Customs’ boss letter at plenary on Wednesday, Senators took turns to berate Ali for failing to honour the invitation, describing the action as unacceptable.

    Ali had cited “recent bereavement” for his inability to honour the invitation extended to him by the legislative body.

    Speaking at plenary on Wednesday, Senator Kabiru Marafa (Zanfara) described Ali’s action as an affront and a slight on the Senate.

    Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu said it’s not the duty of vehicle end users to pay customs duties on the vehicles they purchase.

    According to him, policies must not be framed in such manners that would oppress the Nigerian people and the Senate would like to ensure that such policies make sense.

    Some of the senators insisted that the Customs chief must wear uniform or resign from the service.

    They cited instances where ex-military chiefs proudly wore uniforms of paramilitary organisations when they were appointed to head same.

    Many of the lawmakers also spoke in similar vein, with Saraki reminding the Customs chief that nobody is above the law.

    Senator Thompson Sekibo (Rivers) argued that Ali’s action warranted the invocation of Section 89 of the Nigerian Constitution, which empowered the Senate to issue warrants to compel officials to appear before it.

    Consequently, the Senate invoked Section 89 of the Constitution against Ali, insisting that the Customs chief must appear before it at 10 am. However, the lawmakers did not insist that Ali must appear in uniform.

  • Senate to Customs CG: You must appear Wednesday in uniform

    Senate to Customs CG: You must appear Wednesday in uniform

    …I won’t appear, says Customs CG

     

    The face-off between the Senate and the Comptroller General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ali (rtd) over retrospective duty payment of vehicles worsened Tuesday.

    The upper chamber insisted that the Custom’s boss must appear before it Wednesday in uniform.

    It described Ali’s letter requesting for a new date to appear as “an insult to the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

    The Custom CG had through an Assistant Comptroller General of Customs, one Abdulkadir Azarema, written to inform the Senate that he would not be available Wednesday as invited.

    The CG requested for a new date to appear claiming that Wednesday 15th, March 2017 he was scheduled to appear before the Senate coincided with the fortnight meeting of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) management.

    Apparently to show the disdain with which the Senate regarded the letter, Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, directed the Clerk to the Senate, Mr. Nelson Ayewoh, to read the CG’s letter.

    It read in part, “Letter from CG, Re: Invitation to brief the Senate. “I am directed to acknowledge the receipt of your letter number Nass/CS/8S/R/09/29 of 9th March, 2017 on the above subject matter.

    “I am further directed to inform you that the date given to the Comptroller General of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) Wednesday 15th, March 2017 to brief the senate in plenary on the retrospective duty payment of vehicles in Nigeria as coincided with the fortnight meeting of the NCS management.

    “Consequently, the comptroller general is humbly requesting for a new date from the distinguished senate.

    “As we await your favourable response, please be assured of the highest regards and esteem of the Comptroller General of Customs. Signed Azarema A. Assistant Comptroller General, headquarters for Comptroller General of Customs”

    Hardly had the Clerk concluded reading the letter when Senate Leader, Senator Ahmed Lawan, described the excuse given by the CG for new date to appear before the Senate as frivolous.

    Senator Lawan wondered why the CG did not take personal interest to write the Senate but chose a mere assistant comptroller of Customs

    The Yobe North lawmaker however prayed the Senate to give the CG a new date since “two wrongs does not make a right.”

    Lawan said, “First, the excuse for not appearing Wednesday is because it coincided with routine fortnightly meeting of the management of the Nigerian Customs Service. My opinion is that, that does not take precedence on the invitation by the Senate.

    “Secondly, the letter was signed by someone else not the CG. My opinion is that a letter coming to the Senate from the Customs especially an invitation was written for the Customs CG to appear here; he should have taken personal interest to write that letter and signed it. That would have given, in my judgement, some sense of respect for the institution (of the Senate) not for us.

    “I feel slighted and am sure everybody feels the same. However, let me add that this Senate should, if possible oblige the request for the extension to show that we are different. Let’s take him on Thursday if he is saying he can’t be available tomorrow. Two wrongs would not make a right if it is possible. I know we feel hurt but whether it is live coverage or not Nigerians have interest in this and Nigerians will like to listen to the responses and explanations of the CG of Customs.”

    Senator James Manager, (Delta South) disagreed with Lawan insisting that integrity of the Senate was being tested.

    Senator Manager said, “The integrity of this senate is being tested. I want to inform you all particularly those who are first timers here, before you came there was this Senate and Senate remains the same and we have gone very far in terms of building this institution.

    “I have been here since 2003 and so many powerful and great men have passed through this particular chamber and therefore when letters like this are coming from executive bodies, Senate must take a very firm stand.

    “I disagree with my leader, Senator Ahmed Lawan with the greatest possible respect. If the CG had written and signed by him and then going further if he had established personal contact with the President of the Senate through the chairman of the Senate committee on Customs then that would have been understandable.

    “But the man has somebody else to sign this letter to the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria this is very significant, an arm of government although  the House of Representatives is there but this is the highest lawmaking body of this country and somebody like CG writing a letter and signed by somebody else.

    “Certainly this is not a matter of two wrongs not making a right. Believe you me, the Comptroller General of Customs must appear tomorrow and the reason he gave that his invitation here is coinciding with a small meeting that is taking place over there.

    “A meeting that is not beyond his control as a human being but this is Senate of the Federal Republic and the man is saying that because of that reason Senate should defer.

    “I think this is an insult of the highest order. I think I met a very powerful Senate in 2003 and the Senate remains the same up till today and by the grace of God when I am leaving here I want to leave behind a very powerful Senate so that while over there I will be proud of the Senate that I left behind.

    “As we speak there are so many products of this place who are listening and who are also itching for action and to some that we don’t go below the standards they left behind. The comptroller general  must appear in uniform tomorrow and anything short of that certainly is not acceptable to me and I want to believe is not acceptable to all the senators and what is not acceptable to all the senators is not acceptable to all Nigerians.

    Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi also explained that the position of the Custom CG was an insult on the Senate and ‘we are not taking it lightly.”

    Abdullahi noted that the subject matter for which the CG was invited was dear to Nigerians.

    He insisted that the Senate was prepared to stop any policy that impinges on the welfare of Nigerian.

    The lawmaker who said that Customs boss was taking Nigerians for granted added Nigerians were being asked to pay for the inefficiency of NCS.

    He said that the policy is anti-people and must be shelved.

    Saraki in his ruling said that Senator Lawan spoke the way leaders are meant to speak in trying to see how best to move forward ‘but again we are all guided by the general view and opinion and integrity of this institution.

    “I think it is clear and it’s a collective position as spoken by Senator James Manager. I don’t think there is need for us to prolong this issue. The position of the Senate is clear, he (CG) should appear tomorrow (today) as directed in uniform by the earlier resolution and we await to see him hereWednesday morning by 10:30am and after we finished because also tomorrow we have the Acting Chairman of EFCC who is also appearing before us for screening Wednesday and it will follow at 11:30am.”