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Tag: customs

  • Adeniyi appoints two acting ACGs, redeploys Customs Area Comptrollers

    Adeniyi appoints two acting ACGs, redeploys Customs Area Comptrollers

    In response to the statutory retirement of some management members of Nigeria Customs, the Acting Comptroller General, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi has approved key appointments and redeployment within the service to ensure operational efficiency.  

    National Public Relations Officer, Consequently, Comptrollers Chief Superintendent of Customs, Abudullahi Maiwada, broke the news in a  statement in Abuja on Tuesday.

    According to the statement, Florence Nanu Ogar-Modey and Queen Ogbudu have been appointed Acting Assistant Comptroller Generals Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) and Zonal Coordinator Zone B, respectively. 

    The statement noted some of the Comptrollers redeployed to various Customs formations include Compt. Jaiyeoba Jide from Oyo/Osun Area Command to Apapa Area Command; Compt. Dera Nnadi from Seme to Tin-Can Island Port; Compt. Timi Bomodi from KLT  to Seme; Compt. Ahmed Abe from PCA Zone ‘C’ to Kaduna Area Command and Compt. Babandede Mohammad from Lilypond Export Command to Lagos Free Trade Zone Command.

    Read Also: Customs challenges auto importers on transparency

    It added that others are Compt. Dauda Ibrahim Chana from Investigation Headquarters to Kano/Jigawa Area Command, Compt. Martina Tilleygyado from Non-Intrusive Inspection to KLT Area Command, Compt. Oloyode Adekunle from Tin-Can Island Port to Import &/Export Headquarters while Compt. Zanna Chiroma will be leaving Import & Export for PCA Zone ‘C, among many others.

    The statement said the Acting Comptroller-General congratulated the newly appointed/redeployed officers and charged them to put more effort into achieving the service’s core mandates of Revenue Generation, Suppression of Smuggling, and Trade Facilitation.

  • Customs challenges auto importers on transparency

    Customs challenges auto importers on transparency

    Nigeria Customs Service, Ports Terminal Multiservices Limited PTML Command has urged importers of vehicles and their agents to imbibe transparency while making declarations for their imported vehicles.

    Comptroller Saidu Yusuf, Customs Area Controller of PTML made the call in Lagos at a stakeholders’ sensitisation meeting on Vehicle Identification Number (VIN).

    Yusuf used the occasion to tell participants that the VIN method has not been cancelled.

    He reiterated an earlier position on the matter issued by the NCS headquarters that the VIN Valuation Process remains fully operational and effective.

    “The VIN numbers are critical in identifying distinct versions or tiers within a specific car model. They delineate varying configurations, features, and levels of associated different models.

    “The VIN of vehicles are not same for all kinds and so declarants should have their transaction values,” Yusuf said.

    He blamed some declarants for not being transparent because they input what they think was the lowest base value.

    The customs boss advised them to apply invoice and transaction values as a way of promoting transparency and building integrity in the trade process of vehicle clearance.

    Yusuf pointed out that Section 24 Nigeria Customs Service Act (NCSA) 2023 provide for advance ruling for stakeholders to submit to the NCS before a transaction and the ruling will be binding on the service and the importer or agent.

    This according to the Controller is a unique trade facilitation method provided for by the new law

    Read Also: Niger coup: Military option will be the last choice for ECOWAS – Tinubu

    Yusuf who described the meeting as being in line with the law also said customs stakeholders partnership was a provision of section 29 NCSA 2023.

    According to him, meetings like this is meant to rub minds, identify challenges and jointly work out solutions on how best to resolve the challenges.

    He added that the meeting was also in tandem with World Customs Organisation (WCO) and World Trade Organisation (WTO) trade facilitation thrusts which encourage consultations.

    He reminded the stakeholders that the use of code 846 for clearing of non standard VIN had been further modified to reduce human contact through what he called e-846, which save time and make trade easier.

    “I must commend the system because the reduction of human contact is very effective and beneficial to all as it saves time. I personally monitor electronically from my office and can confirm that my officers are implementing it diligently.

    “Where ever you are experiencing delay in the process under my command, please draw my attention to it. My doors are open and will be more open to all of you.

    “The help desk headed by the Command’s Public Relations Officer is active and responding to all inquiries online and in real time,” Yusuf said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the NCS on Jan. 18, 2022 introduced the VIN valuation system used for allocating standard values to all vehicles coming into the country.

    The system, according to Customs, automatically determines the value of import duty that an importer is expected to pay on any imported cars immediately after the vehicle is passed through a dedicated scanning machine.

    It is an automated system that would aid the valuation of imported vehicles entering into the country through all Nigeria’s approved entering points.

    The idea behind the development of the VIN is to address the agitation of clearing agents and other port users who have been calling for a standardised valuation system in the country. (NAN)

  • Customs smashes fake drugs syndicates at Lagos port

    Customs smashes fake drugs syndicates at Lagos port

    The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Tin-Can Island Port command, Apapa,  Lagos, announced on Monday, August 28, that it smashed a ring of fake drugs syndicates operating at the Lagos port.

    Addressing reporters in Lagos, its Area Controller, Adekunle Oloyede said that officers of the command rejected an offer of $54,330 about N50 million bribe from one of the suspects arrested in connection with two containers of imported fake drugs. 

    The two containers of banned drugs, Oloyedr said, were declared as electronics by the scrupulous importers who are now under their custody.

    The imports, which originated from India, were valued at N550.2 million include  175, 200 bottles of CSMIX cough syrup codeine stacked in 876 cartons with each carton contains 200 bottles.

    Oloyede explained further that 50 cartons of manual grater machine containing 70 pieces per carton and one carton of ceiling fan were used as decoy to conceal the drugs.

    The Area Comptroller added that 84 cartons  of gastro resistant omeprazole capsule BP 200mg, were discovered in the container, saying that each carton contains 50 packets of  10 capsules each.

    He announced that a timely intelligence from the Customs Intelligence Unit (CIU) on the suspected importation of unregistered regulated pharmaceutical products concealed in two  by 40 feet containers with bill of lading Nos 227578945 and 227898171 led to the seizures. 

    He explained that the owner of the containers have been arrested after he offered $54,000 as bribe to move out the cargoes from the port.

    Oloyede said: “Two suspects have been arrested and are presently at the custody of the Enforcement Unit in accordance with the investigation process of the Service. 

    “One of suspects in custody, Boniface Ike accepted that he is the owner (Importer) of the two containers and sought to discuss privately with OC Enforcement DC GI Aliyu and Team Manager CIU AC H Abubakar. 

    “I instructed my officers to play along, the request was granted in expectation of receiving vital information from the suspect but to their bewilderment, the suspect pleaded for his freedom from detention and release of the containers while offering gratification to the tune of N50,000,000.00 (Fifty Million Naira only) (as displayed) equivalent to $54,330 (Fifty-Four Thousand Three Hundred and Thirty Dollars only) at the current exchange rate N920. The money was collected and kept in safe custody at the Enforcement Unit to be tendered as exhibit.”

    He added that, on arrival of the vessel in Tincan Island Container Terminal (TICT), the containers  marked MRSU 592397/0 and MRKU 553432/1 were transferred immediately to the enforcement station for 100 per cent physical examination for further investigation.

    “The physical examination was conducted on both containers by Enforcement Officers, Customs Intelligence Operatives, Customs Police and Examination officers of the Terminal on Tuesday, 22 August 2023 at about 14:00hours and Wednesday, 23 August 2023 at about 13:00hours, respectively. 

    Read Also: Gunmen kill two customs officers in Kebbi

    “The following were discovered:

     Container No MRSU 592397/0: The details on the Bill of Lading with No 227578945 stated the items laden were 1,016 packages containing electrical goods ceiling fan,36 jewel (Cooper) and  chilly cutters (stainless steel plastic) but after examination, the container was found to contain five  cartons of Timaking 120 Tapentadol (Tramadol) Hydrochloride Carisoprodol capsule. Each carton contains 50 rolls, each rolls contains 5 packets, each packet 200 tablets. 10 cartons of Super Royal 225 Tramadol. Each carton contains 50 rolls, each roll contains 10 packets, each packet of 10 tablets, 105) cartons of Omeprazole Capsule BP 200mg. Each carton contains 50 packets, each packet contains 10 capsules, 754 cartons of Barcadin with Codeine (each bottle 100ml). Each carton contains 200 bottles, 50 cartons of Manual Grater Machine – 70 pieces per carton as means of concealment, one cartons of Compo ceiling fan as means of concealment,” Oloyede said.

    The Customs chief noted that the unregistered’ pharmaceutical products intercepted were regulated products by NAFDAC and didn’t have the required permits and certificates for importation in which the documents are to ascertain the safety of the products to Nigerians.

    The comptroller assured  that service would not be a part nefarious acts which would jeopardise the safety and lives of law abiding Nigerians, adding that any fraudulent importer or agent who tries to perpetrate such acts wo5 be arrested and prosecuted. 

  • Customs, Strike Force seize N1.818b goods

    The Comptoler-General of Customs (CGC) Strike Force team in the zone seized contraband with over N118 million DPV between May and last month, its Coordinator, Deputy Comptroller Usman Yahaya, has said.

    He praised his team for using available resources to improve the revenue collection in the zone and also suppress smuggling.

    A breakdown of the seized items include 6,580 bags of 50kg rice, 1,292 kegs of 25 litres vegetable oil, 1,607 cartons of frozen poultry, 17 bales of second hand clothing, and used vehicles – one unit of Peugeot 206 and one unit of Fiat bus.

    Yahaya said five trucks loaded with contraband foreign rice (50kg each) were intercepted along Badagry creek.

    He warned smugglers to stay clear of Zone A and embrace the Federal Government’s business policy.

    In another development, operatives of the Federal Op-erations Unit (FOU), Zone A of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) have seized drugs, vehicles, donkey skin and other goods with over N1.7 billion duty paid value (DPV).

    The unit’s Controller, Aliyu Mohammed, told reporters of his men’s resolve to keep the anti-smuggling tempo high, despite the death of an officer last week.

    Mohammed said a 2019 bullet-proof Toyota Land Cruiser with N189 million DPV and 15 other high-profile vehicles with N469,702,179 DPV were seized from smugglers in one month.

    Also seized were 1157 cartons of banned codeine syrup worth N405 million; 347 cartons of codeine worth N173.5 million; 348 cartons of diclofenac tablets worth N27.8 million; 1,056 cartons of chest and lungs tablets worth N105,600,000; 49 cartons of paracetamol injections worth N39.2 million and 220kg of substance suspected to be cannabis.

    Donkey skin in 820 sacks worth N77.9 million, new and used textile materials, body lotion, shoes, spaghetti, machetes and used tyres were among the seized items displayed.

    According to Mohammed, while some of the seized drugs were prohibited, others were not registered by the National Agency for Food Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), making them unfit for consumption.

    Mohammed, who showed how smugglers pack rice in cement trucks, added that his men seized over 25,000 bags.

    ‘’We also have over 25,000 bags of 50kg rice which were seized in the same period . Some of the rice are in our approved checkpoints awaiting evacuation to this place.

    ‘’Look at how cement has rubbed all over the bags of rice. This is why we always ensure that NAFDAC certifies any rice we are giving to internally displaced persons (IDPs) and orphanages. NAFDAC confirmed to us, during some of our due diligence, that some of the rice were not even fit for animal consumption.

  • Customs resolves 140 duty paid value disputes

    The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Dispute Resolution Committee (DRC) has resolved over 140 duty paid Duty Paid Value (DPV) issues at the Tin Can Island Port.

    The panel settled cases between January and last month, Tin Can Island Customs Command spokesman Uche Ejesieme said in a statement.

    Ejesieme urged importers and their clearing agents with issues with documentation to take their cases to the panel.

    He said: “This year alone, we have resolved over 140 cases in the DRC either for or against, all we want is for you to come up with empirical evidence

    “The committee is made up of almost all the egg heads of the command; we have the APM (Asycuda Project Manager) as a member, Deputy Comptroller Revenue, Deputy Comptroller Valuation, Officer in charge of Customs Intelligence Unit (CIU) is a member, two other senior officers who are actually good in classification and valuation are members. It is an unbiased committee headed by DC Valuation.”

    Ejesieme denied that the command has introduced “duty benchmark” for containers, saying, the NCS was still having challenges with clearing agents who refused to make genuine declarations.

    According to him, the core factor that can make for easy facilitation of trade is compliance with laid down rules and procedures.

    Freight, he said, varied from country to country, noting that Customs expects importers and their agents not to pay anything lesser than what is due.

    Once an agent or importer collects his Pre-Arrival Assessment Report (PAAR), he can easily calculate the duty if he made a true declaration in the first place, Ejesieme said.

    “Some people would also come and ignorantly demand that every 20-foot container pays N800,000, but do you know that some 20-foot containers can actually pay N30 million. So we don’t operate a benchmark in Tin Can, it is actually a risk profiling process that we are operating, to ensure that areas of leakages are not created anywhere. It is the minimum duty we expect you to pay, having checked all the variables in terms of the cost insurance and freight,” he explained.

  • FEC okays N970.2m for provision of barracks for Nigeria Customs

    The Federal Executive Council(FEC) on Wednesday approved the sum of N970.2 million for the proving of residential accommodation for the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS).

    Minister of Finance, Mrs Zainab Ahmed, disclosed this while briefing State House correspondents after the FEC meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari.

    The meeting lasted late into the night.

    Ahmed said that the accommodation was important because the NCS, being a para-military organisation, was trying to ensure that its members of staff were kept in barracks.

    “The Nigeria Customs got approval today for acquisition of residential accommodation for the staff of the service.

    “What the Customs is acquiring is an estate that has a total of 42 flats and the total cost is N152 million per block of six units.

    “The approval that we got today is in the total sum of N970.2 million inclusive of VAT.”

    She said that the NCS, in its desire to upgrade its services to international best practice in information and communication, also got an approval to procure modern communication gadgets.

    She listed some of the gadgets as HF radios, BHF radios, walkie talkies, cable towers and accessories.

    The minister said that the gadgets were necessary for the Nigeria Customs to enhance its end to end encryption of messages delivery to avoid tapping by unscrupulous elements, smugglers and their cohorts.

    “The need has become necessary because of increased onslaught by the service on smuggling and other illegal economic activities.

    “The contract that was approved is in the total sum of N247.907 million inclusive of five per cent VAT and the equipment will be delivered within a period of eight weeks.’’

    Ahmed said that the third paper that was approved for the ministry was an automation project that it had been working on for a very long time.

    According to her, the Project Lighthouse is an initiative of the Ministry of Finance—a data warehousing system that is integrating different tax related data for the purpose of accurate and effective revenue assessment.

    She said the project would also serve in the determination of assets and income status for both corporate and individual taxpayers.

    “It will help us improve on our tax revenue collection efforts both at the federal and states level.

    “The total project cost is in the sum of N710 million,’’ she said.

    On his part, FCT Minister, Mohammed Bello, said that FEC approved the award of contract for the construction of a secondary road linking the town of Dangara to Yaba within Kwali Area Council of FCT.

    He said that the road was a continuation of the administration’s infrastructure development which covered the city itself and the surrounding satellite towns.

    Read Also: Ministry, Customs to create special tariff for vessel acquisition

    Bello said that the contract was awarded in the sum of N1.8 billion inclusive of five per cent VAT and timeline of 18 months.

    The minister said that contracts were also awarded for supply of equipment and purchase of water tanker for some agencies under the FCT.

    “The second projects is a project for the supply of heavy-duty equipment for use by the Development Control Department of FCT under the Abuja Metropolitan Management Council.

    “These equipment are used by the Development Control to effect needed adjustments to buildings and structures that have contravened set regulations particularly the Abuja MasterPlan which we all know is something that we guard jealously.

    “The contract is at the cost of N147.2 million

    “The third approval was for the purchase of water tanker and water tenders-four each for the FCT Fire Service.

    “ It is meant to improve the complement of equipment and facilities that they have so that they will be in a better position to react to fire incidences so that there will minimal loss of life and damage to property,’’ he said.

    Bello said that third approval was for the sum of N725 million

  • How proxy orphanages storm Niger Customs Command to claim Rice for IDPs

    Hundreds of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) posing as owners of orphanages besiege the Nigeria Customs Service Command in Niger state when they heard bags of rice would be shared to IDPs and Orphanage homes.

    A Source in the Command said that before the Committee responsible for sharing of the foodstuff came, the Command had recorded hundreds of applications.

    The proxy Orphanage homes stayed on at the Customs office in Minna on Thursday and Friday despite warnings that they will not be attended to as most of them were found not to be fake.

    As at 11 am on Friday morning, out of over 50 applicants screened, only 15 were verified to operate genuine orphanage homes.

    The Spokesman of the Committee, Ikepi Kadiri Angulu who spoke to newsmen disclosed that 70 per cent of the applications they received were not genuine orphanage homes neither were they operating an IDP camp.

    “I will not say they are fake NGOs but over 70 per cent applications we received were not running orphanages or IDP camps. Some are not orphanages; they are foundations or welfare homes.

    “Before we came, we had sent intelligence to investigate the addresses provided by these orphanages and we discovered that most of them were not orphanages.

    “We are doing verification before we allocate the bags of rice to them and immediately after each verification, we tell them if they met with the requirements or not.”

    Stating some challenges faced by the Committee especially from government officials, Angulu said the Committee had to refuse a letter from a Permanent Secretary in Niger state who wanted to lay claim on some bags of rice and the state Prisons Service.

    “Those that came claiming to have come from Government House were refused. Government knows NGOs that deals with orphans, so they should direct us to them or ask them to come.

    “A letter by a Permanent Secretary was refused. The PRO of Prisons came but they were also refused. We cannot come as a Committee and give to those who are not verified and who do not meet our mandate. ”

    He assured that the Committee will make sure that only genuine orphanage homes and operators of IDPs camps are given allocation for the foodstuff.

    Read Also: Customs seizes smuggled items worth N10.6b

    “As many verifiable orphanages and IDP camps that are in Niger will be given allocation. It is sad that some people will tell you they have orphanages but at the end of the day, it was discovered that they were not orphanages.

    “We discovered one of the addressed submitted was a religious institution which does welfare and assist the less privileged but the committee essence is to deal directly with the operators of these orphanages and IDP homes, we do not want intermediaries, we want to give it to them directly.

    “We cannot go beyond our mandate. We briefed them on our mandate and terms of reference and we expect them to adhere to it. So if they are still outside the gate waiting to be called, maybe they are confident that they have genuine orphanage homes.”

    The Spokesman said that for the Niger/Kogi/Kwara Command, 12,000 bags if rice would be distributed but only 1,900 bags would be distributed in Niger state.

    He disclosed that 250 bags of rice had already been allocated to the IDP camp in Zugeru while 150 bags to the Niger state Orphanage home in Minna.

    “We saw IDPs in Zugeru with our own eyes, 1,100 IDPs in camp and we have allocated 250 bags of rice to them. We have also verified the Government orphanage in Minna and allocated 150 bags to them.”

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  • Kano/Jigawa Customs impound rice, others,worth N45m

    The Kano/Jigawa Nigeria customs Area Command, has impounded over 1500 bags of foreign rice along side other contraband items valued at over N45 million.

    Displaying the seized goods at the Kano Area Command headquarters on Thursday, the Area comptroller,Nasir Ahmad said that 20 vehicles worth N7.2 million were used as means of transporting the seized items.

    He said over 260 jerry cans of foreign vegetable oils valued at N3.7 million were intercepted at various locations, adding that 25 bags of foreign sugar were also seized valued at N412,510.

    According to him, the command has also impounded 20 used exotic vehicles at various boarder locations and now in detention awaiting the owners to come forward for clearance.

    Ahmad explained that the various contrabands that were impounded were intercepted at Miltara road, Gumel boarder in jigawa, Bello road, Katsina Road, Babura, Achilafiya, Zaria road and Maigatari border in Jigawa state.

    Ahmad said ” You can see another method that is being used by smugglers to smuggle in rice into the country by using empty jerry cans to conceal the rice.

    “If you see a bus conveying empty jerry cans of vegetable oil, one would hardly suspect anything but alas! it is another way of transporting smuggled foreign rice.

    “We have resolved that any vehicle coming out of the zone must be properly inspected.

    “There should be no snuggling of rice especially to these part of the country where rice is largely cultivated and with lots of rice mills that can give us enough local rice.”

    He warned smugglers to desist from these illegal business and find another means of livelihood that any one caught indulging in such act will not be spared by the law.

  • Fake Customs officer bags 6 years imprisonment with hard labour

    An Iwo -road, Ibadan Chief Magistrate’s Court sitting in Ibadan on Monday sentenced a 20‎- year old man, Abiodun David to six years imprisonment with hard labour for impersonating Nigeria customs personnel.

    The convict (David), who had been parading himself as a senior customs officer in charge of auction in the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), was charged on a nine -count of obtaining money under false pretence, fraudulent conspiracy, stealing, forgery and impersonation.

    The accused (now convicted) had earlier pleaded not guilty to the nine count charge with ‎ Charge No: Mi/509c/20178.

    The prosecutor, Sunday Ogunremi told the court that ‎the accused and others now at large on 13th September, 2018 around Akingbade area of the city in Ibadan magisterial district did conspire together to impersonate and obtain money under false pretence.

    Ogunremi said David and others now at large on the same date, time and place did fraudulently obtain the sum of N275, 000.00 from one Mrs.Olofiniade‎ Olusayo with pretext to supply her fairly used clothes called “Akube”

    He said that the accused claimed ‎to be in charge of auction in the Nigeria Custom Service (NCS) having known same to be false.

    He added that David also forged Nigeria custom car clearance document having known same to be false.

    The Prosecutor said that the accused and others still at large sometimes in May 2018 around Egbeda area of Ibadan fraudulently obtained the sum of N 805,000.00 from one Babalola Tunde with pretext to supply him a Toyota Highlander and converted the money to his personal use.

    Ogunremi also told the court that the accused and others now at large on 17th October 2018 around Oluwo Masopa‎ area Ibadan fraudulently obtained the sum of N 200, 000, 00 from one Ezekiel Ojo with pretext to supply him a Volkswagen Golf S/Car and converted the money to his personal use.

    The prosecutor said the offence was contrary to and punishable under section 516,419,108(2), 467,390(9), 419, of the Criminal Code vol. II laws of Oyo State Nigeria.

    David however prayed the court to temper justice with mercy, claiming that it was lack of job that pushed him into committing the offence.

    He vowed never to commit such an offence again if the court should pardon him and set him free.

    ‎In his ruling the magistrate, Mr. Taiwo Oladiran expressed worries about the frequency of the ‎Internet fraud,saying this had had negative effect on the image of the country.

    Consequently, the Magistrate said he would not grant the prayer of the accused for pardon so as to serve as deterrent to others.

    Oladiran thereafter sentenced the accused (David) to six years imprisonment with hard Labour ‎, with three years each on Counts one and two.

    He said that the convict will however run his the jail term concurrently.

  • Freight Forwarders issue 72 hours ultimatum to Customs

    Freight forwarders operating in the Lagos Western Zone, Thursday issued a 72- hour ultimatum to the Federal Government to call the Comptroller General of Customs, Col Hameed Ali to order and address the multiplication of Customs task forces at the ports.

    They threatened that if the situation is not reversed by next Monday, they will withdraw their services from the port.

    At a joint press briefing held in Apapa Thursday, various associations which includes 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, lamented that the customs boss had allegedly deployed a team from Abuja to checkmate 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, Monitoring, Special Force, CG task force, information team, customs police, among others.

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

    Speaking at the meeting, 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 that the team has taken over the job of resident customs officers.

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

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

    Tanko alleged that “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”

    Also speaking, Chairman of Tin Can chapter of NAGAFF, Azubuike Ekweozor, lamented the activities of shipping companies and terminal operators in addition to the excesses of Customs.

    He complained that vessels coming into Nigeria to discharge containers are supposed to return with the same number of empty containers but that rather than obey this law, the vessels carry export to other countries.

    On his part, Apapa chapter chairman of NAGAFF, Ndubuisi Uzoegbo, urged the customs CG to build trust in his officers on the field. He also said that freight forwarders should be carried along by the customs whenever they make policies affecting their operations.

    He said “Many containers have been abandoned in Apapa because of high tariffs and demurrage from Shipping companies and terminal operators, most offices in Apapa today are empty, shipping companies have forced many of our colleagues back to the village”

    “The Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo should come over and address all these issues, he is the one in charge of Ease of Doing Business, when Okonjo Iweala was there as coordinating minister, she came to the port on physical inspection and she addressed us.”