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Tag: Customs officers

  • JUST IN: Customs board promotes 4,291 senior officers

    JUST IN: Customs board promotes 4,291 senior officers

    …confirms appointment of 1 DCG, 8 ACGs

    The Nigeria Customs Service Board (NCSB), during its 61st regular meeting held on December 18, 2024, chaired by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, announced the promotion of 4,291 senior officers.

    The Board confirmed the appointment of one Deputy Comptroller General (DCG) and eight Assistant Comptroller Generals (ACGs). 

    The newly confirmed members of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Management Team include DCG S. Chiroma (North-East), and ACGs Z.M. Gaji (North-East), O.A. Adebakin (South-West), G.M. Omale (North-Central), M.S. Yusuf (North-Central), D.A. Nnadi (South-East), H.K. Ejibunu (North-Central), and D. Hassan (North-East). 

    These appointments aim to fill vacancies created by the retirement of senior officers from various geopolitical zones.

    The move reflects the Service’s commitment to national inclusivity, institutional balance, and compliance with the Federal Character Policy as stipulated in Section 14(4) of the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023.

    “Furthermore, the promotion of senior officers highlights the exceptional performance of both General Duty (GD) and Support Staff (SS) personnel during the 2024 promotion exercise.

    “A breakdown of the 4,291 officers elevated are as follows: 80 Deputy Comptrollers (DC) advanced to Customs Comptroller (CC), 151 Assistant Comptrollers (AC) to Deputy Comptroller (DC) and 612 Chief Superintendents of Customs (CSC) to Assistant Comptroller (AC).

    “Others are 641 Superintendents of Customs (SC) to Chief Superintendent of Customs (CSC), 392 Deputy Superintendents of Customs (DSC) to Superintendent of Customs (SC), 590 Assistant Superintendents of Customs I (ASC I) to Deputy Superintendent of Customs (DSC), 965 Assistant Superintendents of Customs II (ASC II) to ASC I, and 860 Inspectors of Customs (IC) to ASC II.

    Recognising extraordinary contributions, the image maker said: “The Board also approved special promotions for sixteen (16) deserving officers to the next higher rank based on their exceptional performance in various assigned responsibilities.

    Read Also: Customs promotes 1,419 junior personnel

    “In the same vein, the Board equally approved a posthumous promotion in honour of the late Deputy Comptroller of Customs, Etop Andrew Essien, who passed away on June 25, 2024, during a presentation before the National Assembly House Committee on Public Accounts. This gesture acknowledges his invaluable contributions and unwavering dedication, a testament to the organisation’s appreciation of exceptional service and commitment”, Maiwada said.

    He said: “As part of its drive for enhanced service delivery and streamlined administrative processes in line with global best practices, the Board approved a strategic restructuring, transferring the Post Clearance Audit (PCA) Unit directly to the Office of the Comptroller General from the Tariff and Trade Department. This pivotal unit, now elevated in status, will be headed by an Assistant Comptroller General, ensuring stronger oversight, increased efficiency, and alignment with the Service’s commitment to excellence in operational standards.

    “To safeguard operational continuity and preserve the wealth of institutional knowledge amid the retirement of numerous senior officers, a 12-month service extension has been granted to selected distinguished senior officers representing the six geopolitical zones of the Federation.

    “The extension of service for these officers, ratified by the Board meeting, follows the Presidential approval for the measure meant to address the current high rate of NCS management turnover.

    “The officers granted this esteemed extension include Assistant Comptrollers-General B Imam (North-East), IG Umar (North-West), KC Egwu South-East) as well as Comptrollers F. Abdulqadri (North-Central), MT Awe South-West, and OF Ojiefor (South-South).

    “The Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR, on behalf of the NCSB, congratulates all newly appointed, promoted, and retained officers, urging them to uphold the Service’s core mandates and pursue excellence.

    “He extends warm Christmas and New Year wishes to all and expresses deep gratitude to the Honorable Minister of Finance for ensuring the timely conclusion of the 2024 promotion cycle. In celebration of this milestone, the CGC also reaffirms the Service’s commitment to fostering a motivated workforce with assured career progression and a steadfast focus on excellence,” he said.

  • Suspected smugglers injure two customs officers in Ogun

    Two operatives of the Nigeria Customs Service (NSC) were, yesterday, injured after hoodlums suspected to be smugglers ambushed Customs men in Ogun State.

    The incident happened at about 8 am at Papalanto axis of Ewekoro Local Government.

    The Customs operatives were reportedly escorting seized smuggled foreign rice from Ilaro to their warehouse in Abeokuta, the state capital, for safe keep when they were obstructed by a group of hoodlums, who attacked them with cutlasses and bottles.

    A statement by the spokesman of Ogun Customs Area Command, Abdullahi Maiwada, said the injured officers were taken to a hospital, where they are now responding to treatment.

    Maiwada said: “Officers of Nigeria Customs Service, Ogun State Command, escorting seized smuggled rice from Ilaro, navigating to Abeokuta Government Warehouse for safekeeping on Friday at about 8 am were obstructed by a group of hoodlums, who pelted our personnel with stones, bottles cutlasses, sticks and other dangerous items.

    “Our officers restrained themselves by controlling the situation short of using force. On the arrival of reinforcement units of Nigeria Army, Police, Customs Federal Operations Unit and Command teams, the hoodlums were overpowered, but not before serious injuries were inflicted on two Customs personnel, who are currently responding to treatment in the hospital.

    “In the face of the provocative hostility, officers succeeded in securing the seizures out of the scene in a professional manner thereby avoiding any loss of life.”

    It was gathered, that, three suspects were arrested and are currently being interrogated at the headquarters of Ogun Customs Command in Abeokuta.

    It will be recalled that an officer attached to the command, Abdullahi Kuso, was almost lynched at Papalanto on July 7, 2018 by suspected smugglers, in a bid to prevent customs operatives from carrying out their lawful duty.

  • Video: Customs officers shoot passenger dead over N5,000 bribe

    Customs officers along Benin-Asaba road on Sunday killed a young man in a passenger bus.

    The deceased was said to be coming from Lagos with other passengers when the officers stopped the vehicle and demanded a N5,000 bribe.

    In the ensuing altercation, one of the officers shot the passenger, a development that infuriated other passengers.

    The passengers reportedly mobilised and prevented the officers from leaving the scene.

    They also disarmed them before descending on them, according to an eyewitness who spoke with our correspondent.

  • Suspected robbers kill Customs officers

    The Nigeria Customs Service, Katsina State Command, has confirmed the killing of two of its officers by suspected robbers.

    Spokesman Peter Duniya, who confirmed the killing in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Katsina yesterday, said the officers were killed on July 30 while on duty.

    He said they were shot dead by people suspected to be robbers on Daura Road, Katsina.

    Duniya said the officers were on routine patrol at Dogon-Hawa, near Shargalle, in Dutsi Local Government when they were killed.

    The spokesman named the deceased as Assistant Superintendent of Customs Babandi Nuradeen and Chief Superintendent of Customs Maidama Yabo.

    “The command has begun investigation into the circumstance leading to the shooting of the officers,” he said.

    Duniya said the command had deployed officers from the intelligence unit, to unravel the reason for the killing.

    A NAN correspondent in Katsina reports that the state has been witnessing robberies.

    Security agents recently smashed a gang of cattle rustlers, who had been terrorising herdsmen.

  • Customs officers, car dealers clash in Kaduna

    Customs officers, car dealers clash in Kaduna

    THE Nigerian Customs Service and vehicle dealers appeared to have drawn a battle line in Kaduna, as the duo clashed yesterday over vehicle import duty.  A Customs’ Hilux patrol vehicle was set ablaze in the process.

    It, however, took a timely intervention of the Kaduna State security outfit (Operation Yaki) to prevent the clash from leading to a major crisis within the Kaduna city.

    The incident, which took place on  Rabah Road, in Kaduna North Local Government, occurred at about 3.00pm when Customs officials had gone on patrol to impound vehicles without import duties from car dealers in the city.

    Meanwhile, when our correspondent arrived at the scene at about 4.00pm, men of the Kaduna State Fire Service were still battling to put off the fire on the patrol vehicle.

    Motorists and other road users as well as passersby scamper for safety while security operatives from the ‘Operation Yaki’ outfit cordoned off the area.

    An eyewitness told our correspondent that the Customs officials had gone to an unamed car dealers’ showroom around the Isa Kaita road area, also in the metropolis, to impound about six luxury vehicles which they claimed had no import duties.

    However, according to the eyewitness, on getting to the showroom, the Customs officials  who were few in numbers, sensed there  could be danger and decided to go back for reenforcement.

    At this juncture, it was gathered that the dealers decided “to go and hide some of the vehicles. But the Customs officials were able to tow away four of the luxury vehicles,” he narrated. .The Nation gathered that it was when Customs officials came back to impound more vehicles, that the car dealers mobilised chased the officials.

    They (car dealers) caught up with the patrol vehicle and set it ablaze. Onlookers cheered the dealers.

    Another eyewitness said: “The Customs officials had gone to Issa Kaita Road to impound vehicles without import duties from an unknown car showroom. They succeeded in impounding four of the vehicles but came back to tow the remaining two.

    “As they took the remaining two, the car dealers mobilised and ran after the Customs officials, they caught up with them and dragged down the driver and set the patrol vehicle on fire,” he said

    Meanwhile, Customs spokesman could not be reached at press time, but a source close to the service said they would brief the press later.

  • CDHR protests killing of Okada rider by customs officers

    CDHR protests killing of Okada rider by customs officers

    THE Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR) has called for thorough investigation and prosecution of Customs officers involved in the killing of an automobile technician, Saheed Omotosho.

    Omotosho was hit by a stray bullet allegedly from the gun shot of the Customs men, who were on the trail of rice smugglers at Alagbado, a Lagos suburb on Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway.

    They were reported to have pursued the smugglers from Idi-Iroko area of Ogun State to Agbado, Ifako-Ijaiye, Lagos, last Thursday and had to shoot in a bid to ensure the smugglers did not escape.

    As the sporadic shooting continued, Omotosho who was on a commercial motorcycle (Okada) was hit by a stray bullet. He later died on the way to the hospital.

    Members of the CDHR, armed with a petition, yesterday marched to Customs office and the House of Assembly Complex, Alausa, Ikeja.

    The petition signed by CDHR Lagos chapter chairman Alex Omotehinse and secretary, Kushimo Olumuyiwa reads:  “Only a beast and vampire would display such act as done by these men of Nigerian Customs Service.

    “Also in a bid to cover up their shame and lack of competence, they abducted a relation of the late Omotosho, Rasheed Oyedeji, who raise the alarm over the killing of his brother.”

    The group demanded among others, the “immediate and unconditional release of Oyedeji; justice for the deceased and adequate compensation to his family; investigation and arrest of all the Customs officers involved in such criminal act and subsequent trial.”

    Reacting, NCS Comptroller, Lagos Operation, Adamu Turaki, commended the protesters for their peaceful conduct and promised to forward the group’s petition to Customs’Comptroller-General.

    He said the petition would be looked into and justice would be done after investigation.

    At the assembly, the protesters called for laws to restrict operations of Customs officers to the border areas.

    Addressing the protesters, Dayo Saka-Fafunmi (IfakoIjaiye I) said the House had condemned the killing of Omotosho during a plenary session.

    Saka-Fafunmi said: “We empathise with you on this loss. It was a loss for the entire state and the nation. We strongly believe that the strength of democracy lies with the people.

    “The Lagos State House of Assembly being a responsive and responsible arm has tabled the matter and has decided to take the matter up. We will ensure protection of the people. We are not leaving the people of Ifako Ijaiye and family of Saheed Omotoso in this struggle, the House will ensure justice is done. Every allegation will be treated accordingly. The customs officers will be brought to book and justice will be done.”

  • Corruption: Ali reads riot act to Customs officers 

    Corruption: Ali reads riot act to Customs officers 

    The Comptroller- General of Nigeria Customs and Excise, Col Hameed Ali (rtd), has warned officers of the agency to desist from acts of indiscipline and corruption.

    Ali spoke at Idiroko in Ipokia local government during a familiarisation tour of Ogun Area Customs Command.

    He urged men of the command to adhere strictly to the rules and regulations of the agency in the discharge of their duties.

    He said: “The basic thing is discipline especially in a Para-military organisation like ours; without discipline nothing can be achieved.

    “I want to say that in customs service today, discipline is lacking. I am not saying that all the officers are undisciplined but some of those that are undisciplined are the one giving us a bad name.

    “Enforcement is lacking, people commit infractions. Many of our men collect money under the table and that creates the impression that we are corrupt in the eyes of the public.”

    The Customs boss went on: “Henceforth, there would be zero tolerance for corruption and indiscipline.

    “When you do any of these things mentioned, we would punish you. Any officer caught taking bribe or conniving with smugglers would not only be charged to court and jailed but would also forfeit their illegally acquired property.”

    Ali also warned Customs officers to desist from rejecting new postings and training programmes.

    According to him: “Under no circumstances must any officer refuse to be posted or refuse to go to where he or she has been asked to serve.

    “You should desist from refusing to attend courses because training is also part of career development and uplift.

    “Promotion shall henceforth be based on courses attended, promotion examination and evaluation of performance.”

    Ali went on: “I have also discovered that some officers have been promoted two steps above their colleagues because they have godfathers; that would henceforth stop because it is setting the service on the path of indiscipline.

    “Officers will be moved or redeployed every three years and gone are the days when junior officers would look at their senior colleague and spew out words of insubordination without being punished.

    “Officers must strictly adhere and apply the law governing our operations at all times. My parting words are that you must have integrity, be honest and transparent.

    “When you imbibe these three virtues, chances of going wrong in the discharge of duty will be minimised.”

    The leadership of licensed freight forwarders in Idiroko community called for rehabilitation of major roads leading in and out of the border area as well as reduce import duty.

    Ali urged them to comply with the federal government’s policy on import duty for a mutually beneficial relationship with Customs service.

  • Smugglers injure three Customs officers

    The Nigeria Customs Service, Western Marine Command, Lagos, yesterday said it would track down smugglers who injured its officials after seizing their rice-laden boat at Bawe Creek in Badagry.

    The Customs Area Controller, Mr Umar Yusuf, made the pledge while showing reporters items seized from the smugglers, including a boat.

    Yusuf said the officers were among those attacked by the smugglers while on duty on June 12.

    He said the smugglers bowed to the superior fire power of his men as they abandoned their weapons and fled.

    “The smugglers opened fire, but the gallant officers were able to subdue them and they fled, leaving their machetes and guns. They did not want my officers to come back alive, but God intervened and the officers fought a good fight.

    “We are ensuring that we track down the smugglers wherever they are and we will do so squarely because we are equal to the task,’’ Yusuf said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the boat laden with about 2, 000 bags of rice; a locally-made gun, one shot gun, four knives and a machete were seized.

    Some seized expired drugs, condensed milk, and secondhand clothes were destroyed on the controller’s order.

    The Customs boss warned smugglers operating on the waterways to desist forthwith or face the command’s wrath.

    The command, he said, was set to deploy its seagoing boats – the Customs Pride and Group of Nine – to boost its operations.

    He said the command’s officials would be exposed to marine training courses to enable them effectively operate the boats.

    Yusuf hailed the Customs Intelligence Unit for supporting his command.

     

  • How Customs officers attacked us, by LASTMA

    How Customs officers attacked us, by LASTMA

    Officials of the Lagos State Transport Management Agency (LASTMA) have accused Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) men of attacking them for impounding a vehicle that contravened traffic laws.

    The customsmen, they alleged, invaded their Zone 22 Mile 2 Yard in Lagos.

    The vehicle, a Honda Pilot Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV), marked EKY 521 CZ, belonging to a senior Customs officer, allegedly drove “one way’ around Coconut area of Mile 2. It was impounded and taken to the LASTMA yard.

    Over 20 Customsmen in three patrol vehicle, led by a deputy controller were said to have invaded the LASTMA office.

    Zonal head at the Mile 2 yard, Victor Adeyanju said: “The officers who were in uniform stormed the office and demanded the unconditional release of their colleague’s vehicle, but we made them to understand that there is a standard procedure for the release of vehicles that contravene traffic laws in the state. Then, they started beating and dragging our officials on the floor, damaging computers and breaking windows. They threatened not to leave the premises without the contravened vehicle.

    “When we stood our ground, the Customs officers started shooting sporadically and held people inside the offices’ hostage while those outside scampered for safety from stray bullet. It took the concerted effort of policemen from the nearby FESTAC Police Station led by the Divisional Crime Officer (DCO) Superintendent (SP) Owoh Ifeayin to restore normalcy”.

    He said Musiliu Edu, Wensu Idowu and Police Corporal Saliu Isiaka were battered.

    While Edu and Isiaka were beaten for recording the act and their phones and camera seized at gunpoint, Idowu was hit in the mouth with a gun butt, Adeyanju said, adding that they were rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment.

    LASTMA’s spokesperson, Bola Ajao confirmed the incident, saying: “The vehicle was apprehended about 9.15am for driving against traffic and taken into the LASTMA yard. An hour after the arrest, a group of Customs officials in a convoy of three patrol vehicles fully armed with automatic rifles and led by an officer who introduced himself as a Deputy Controller, stormed the LASTMA yard and inflicted injuries on officials on sight.

    “The Custom Officers, who were arrested by the police, however, escaped on the way to the station but one of their official patrol vehicles was apprehended and taken to the FESTAC Police Station, while the apprehended SUV was deposited at the LASTMA Headquarters.

    “The officers who hurriedly left to evade justice left behind evidence such as bullet shells and a name tag belonging to one of the officers, AUDU. A.A.”

    LASTMA General Manager, Mr. Babatunde Edu decried the attack, saying it was appalling for the officers to brutalise LASTMA officials and prevent them from carrying out their duties.

    Edu urged uniformed personnel whether military or para-military to see LASTMA officials as partners in progress.

    Efforts to get Custom’s spokesperson Wale Adeniyi to speak on the incident failed as text messages sent to him were not replied.