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Tag: customs

  • Tin-Can Island Customs revenue dips by N129.5m

    The Tin-Can Island Customs Command II, formerly known as Lilypond Command, Ijora yesterday said it recorded N531,814,240 revenue from various sources in July.

    It said the July revenue was N129, 516 million lower than the N661,330, 604 recorded in June.

    The command attributed the decline to the low volume of activities at the terminal occasioned by low level of importation.

    The command’s performance index is contained in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos. It quoted the command‘s Controller, Alhaji Abdul-Kadir Dalhat, as saying that the command was devising practical ways of ensuring improved revenue profile in spite of challenges with importation.

    One of the measures, according to Dalhat, is the blockage of revenue loopholes to ensure all monies due to government were remitted to it.

    NAN reports that the command had, recently, announced N1.57billion revenue for May 2016.

  • Ogun customs intercepts 13,328 bags of rice, motorcycles

    Ogun customs intercepts 13,328 bags of rice, motorcycles

    The Ogun State Customs Area Command has recorded a major breakthrough in its anti-smuggling campaign with the recent seizure of 13,328 bags of rice, 380 motorcycles and 7,743 cartons of frozen poultry products from smugglers.

    Other items seized are: 206 vehicles, 401 kegs of vegetable oil, 71 bags of cannabis, 240 kegs of petrol and 996 used tyres, among others.

    Speaking with reporters at the Idiroko Area Customs Command, the Area Controller of the command, Mr Multafu Wandu, disclosed that the command also generated N4.8 billion as against N3.4 billion collected in the same period in 2015.

    He said: ”The last six months (Jan-June 2016) recorded significant increase in revenue generation drive and anti-smuggling activities. For the period under review, the command collected N4, 085, 926, 801.65 as against N3, 401, 647, 417.28 collected in the same period in 2015, which is a progressive difference of N684, 279,384.37.

    ”In the period under review, the command recorded 411 seizures with Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N484,143,527.00 as against 515 seizures with DPV of N445,399,838.00 that the command recorded in 2015. Therefore, the downward trend in seizure has resulted in high revenue for the government.”

    He explained that the command has reengineered its operational strategies “with a view to optimally achieve our core statutory mandates of revenue collection, anti-smuggling campaigns and trade facilitation among other collaborative functions.

    “Furthermore, unpatriotic Nigerians that are into smuggling through unapproved border routes within the command are having a tough time because of the resilience and firm determination of our gallant officers and men in bringing smuggling to the barest minimum in the command.”

  • Customs boss decries influx of arms

    Customs boss decries influx of arms

    The Comptroller General of Nigeria Customs Service, Hammed Ali, has decried the increasing influx of firearms into the country.

    The Customs boss said the act can be curtailed if security agencies work together.

    He spoke in Abuja yesterday when the Acting Inspector General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris, paid him a visit.

    Ali said: “It is a must for us to curtail the influx of firearms. You could recall that the Libyan episode and Mali episode has now created more serious nature of circulation of arms in the whole of Africa.

    “The influx of arms is what gives impetus for criminals to operate. If we are able to block and make sure that arms is not circulated the way it is, I am sure we will reduce to minimal the menace. Some of the people who are armed robbers and kidnappers, without arms in their hands, they cannot confront most of their victims.”

  • Firm sues Customs for N50m over MD’s ‘illegal detention’

    Firm sues Customs for N50m over MD’s ‘illegal detention’

    •‘We did nothing wrong’

    Justice Abdulazeez Anka of the Federal High Court, Lagos will on September 19, begin hearing in a N50 million suit filed by a firm, Afriglobe Shipping Lines Ltd, against the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) for alleged illegal detention of its Managing Director, Christian Ukata.

    In an originating summon filed by the firm through its counsel,  Charles Ugwuanyi, Ukata said he was wrongfully detained by the NCS officials at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, last November.

    He said he was accused of being in unlawful possession of foreign exchange, which he had voluntarily declared at the NCS desk.

    The firm, in its statement of claim, averred that in November, last year, it was contracted by Aerodocs Inc. USA to clear its cargo at Republic of Chad and deliver same to Millicom, Chad at an agreed cost of $46,731.

    The payment, according to the firm, was subsequently made through Access Bank Plc.

    After confirming the arrival of the cargo at Ndjamena Airport, Chad, the firm averred that it withdrew $42,200 from the amount paid into its Access Bank Plc account and detailed Ukata to travel to Ndjamena via Duala Airport for the purpose of clearing and delivery of the cargo.

    Ukata claimed that he made an arrangement to travel on November 15, 2015 with a view to clearing the cargo on November 16, so as to avoid incurring demurrage.

    On getting to the Lagos Airport, the firm said Ukata went through all the departure formalities including declaring the $42,200 with him before two NCS officials, one Mrs Oshilaja and Mr K. S. Ugboaja.

    The declared foreign exchange according to the firm was accompanied with relevant Waybills, Invoice and Inflow advise from Access Bank Plc to establish the legitimacy of the source and the use of the fund.

    The firm stated that the matter however took a twist after Ukata turned down an overture by the NCS officials for a tip before he could be allowed to board his flight. The two officials, according to the firm’s court deposition, allegedly threatened to detain Ukata if he did not settle them.

    The firm further averred that the two officials allegedly threatened Ukata that they had a ‘Presidential directive’ to seize and confiscate any foreign exchange brought before them whether voluntarily declared or not.

    It averred that Ukata was subsequently prevented from travelling, detained at the NCS airport cell, near Hajj Camp from about 5pm on November 15, until the next day when he was transferred to the Ikoyi office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for “failing to do their bidding”.

    “After five days of investigation, the EFCC cleared Mr Ukata from any money laundering allegation and handed back to him, the seized money and travel documents.”

    It added that Ukata and his firm lost the clearing contract as Aerodoc had secured the services of another firm to avoid incurring demurrage on the cargo.

    The firm is consequently seeking  N50m in damages against the NCS for false imprisonment and unlawful detention of Ukata, loss of business, loss of goodwill, exposure to breach of contract and unutilised air ticket.

    The firm is also seeking a declaration by the court that the purported presidential directive ordering seizure of foreign exchange at the airport whether declared or not, is unconstitutional, Illegal, null and void.

    But, in its statement of defence, NCS  absolved itself of any wrong doing, stating that its two officials, who were on duty when the incident happened were members of a Presidential Committee on Trans-Border Cash Movement and were taking directives from the Presidency and not Nigeria Customs Service.

  • 126 held as Customs seizes N2b goods

    126 held as Customs seizes N2b goods

    ABOUT N2 billion worth of goods were seized and 126 suspects arrested by the Federal Operation Unit, Zone ‘A’ of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Ikeja, between January and last month, it was learnt.

    Findings revealed that the unit’s officers seized 494 contraband during the period.

    The seized items included 22,763 bags of 50kg parboiled rice valued at N113,940,000, with a payable duty of N34,182,000, and a duty payable value (DPV) of N148,122,000.

    Others were 29,684 cartons of poultry products valued at N133,578,000, with a payable duty of N26,715,600, and a DPV of N160,293,600.

    The unit, it was gathered, also seized 50 vehicles, including 38 units of assorted brands and 12 buses valued at N68,000,000, with a payable duty of N23,800,000 and a DPV of N91,800,000.

    Officers of the unit also intercepted 3,174 jerry cans of vegetable oil valued at N21,196,000, with a payable duty of N7,359,950 and a DPV of N28,555,950.

    Speaking with The Nation, NCS Public Relations Officer (PRO), Mr Uche Ejesieme, said N312,870,295 was recovered through the various interventions of the unit and it formed part of the N2 billion.

    Other items seized included new and used textile materials, new and used shoes, vegetable oil, insecticides, assorted wines, various types of pastas (spaghetti and noodles), soaps and detergents valued at N365,346,650, with a payable duty of N94,194,990 and a DPV of N459,541,640.

    “The FOU is a critical arm of the Nigeria Customs Service entrusted with the responsibilities of suppressing smuggling as well as facilitation of legitimate trade in line with global best practices. This statutory role of the unit requires strength of character, vision and competence of the operatives. The unit is not under any illusion of the expectation of the Customs management, hence the resilience and doggedness which have over the period become the modus operandi.

    ”The Federal Operations Unit Zone ‘A’ as a hub and flagship of anti-smuggling continues to re-engineer its operational architecture in realisation of the need for the actualisation of its core mandate. It, therefore, suffices that the constant review and overhaul of our operational strategies to meet with the emerging challenges. It is pertinent to reiterate that smuggling, just like scavenging is a global menace which has been a thorn in the flesh of the most developed nations.

    “This is why we have taken up the gauntlet to ensure that no stone is left un-turned as we drive the process as a leading force in anti-smuggling operations. All these innovative steps have led to the success recorded so far,” Ejesieme said.

     

  • Why we seize cleared goods, by Customs

    Why we seize cleared goods, by Customs

    ·• Importers, drivers query ‘second clearing’

    Is the Federal Operations Unit (FOU), Zone ‘A’, Ikeja right in intercepting trucks cleared at the Tin Can Port by other Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) officers?

    Importers and truck drivers are accusing the FOU officials of “extortion” and “second clearing”; but the FOU insists that it is doing its job.

    “If we get information that there was manipulation in the document presented for the release of the cargo from the port, our officers will go there and intercept the item and the affected officer will be asked to report to FOU and subsequently to the Customs Headquarters in Abuja,” FOU Public Relation Officer (PRO) Uche Ejesieme said.

    The drivers alleged that the FOU officers story on the bridge about two metres from the port and stop them for another clearance.

    Some of the officers, they claimed, demand between N50,000 and N100,000 and, at times, more before allowing them to go.

    Last Friday, about 20 officers of the FOU were on  the bridge, stopping container-laden trucks just released from the port.

    The importers and drivers appealed to the Minister of Transport, Mr Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi; his Finance counterpart, Mrs Kemi Adeosun and the Customs Comptroller-General (CCG) Col Ahmeed Ali to call the FOU officers to order.

    In 2011, The Nation learnt that Alhaji Dikko Abdullahi ordered FOU operatives, who mount roadblocks and impound cleared containers, off the road.

    A senior manager of a terminal at the port, who pleaded not to be named, said the FOU officers have no right to seize containers on the bridge.

    Ha said:“What are they doing on the Coconut Bus Stop bridge? The bridge leads to the port and it is about two metres away from the port. If the FOU officers are interested in the cargo clearance procedure, I think they should be allowed to come inside the port instead of killing the trade facilitation programme of the Federal Government and causing unnecessary gridlock on the road.

    “It is a pity that these are officers the nation expects to go into the bush and creeks to combat smuggling, harassing innocent and law-abiding importers and truck drivers on the road. This is happening in the day time and the Customs leadership is yet to call them to order. If there is a problem with what the truck drivers took from the port to the main road, who do we blame? Who is responsible for the release of cargo from the port? Is it not Customs? Is it because of their own negligence and inefficiency that the rest of us would not be allowed to carry on with our businesses?

    He added: “Customs said the Pre-Arrival Assessment Report (PAAR) was introduced to make cargo clearance easy from the port, but what we are seeing on this road daily is not what we expected from the scheme. We had hoped that since Customs has taken over all aspects of cargo clearance, the issues of falsified documents, under declaration, over invoicing and other import related problems, would be resolved when the goods are still inside the ports. This is an aspect of trade facilitation the Customs boss must address.”

    A Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) security officer, who was at the scene, said they had in the past advised the Customs officers to map out strategies to ensure that only certified goods are allowed to leave the ports. He wondered why a Customs officer would release a cargo from the port only for another to intercept it in front of the same port.

    “Who released the goods? Why must a Customs officer release the cargo from the port in broad day light and another officer would say the owner of the goods or the truck driver has questions to answer? Why? It shows that the level of trust and synergy among the Customs officers have degenerated and there is nobody in control. Therefore, there is need for President Buhari, the Ministers of Transport and Finance to address the problem,” the security officer said.

    A clearing agent, Mr Kola Adepegba, accused the officers of violating the ban on hinterland patrol because of what they intend to gain from it.

    He said if an importer disobeys any law, he should be checked by the superior mechanism put in place by the Customs from taking the goods out of the port.

    Adepegba said: “Those responsible for the release of the intercepted goods must also be punished because it shows that some people somewhere are not doing what they are supposed to do, and that is why we have this problem on the road.

    Describing the allegations as untrue Ejesieme said the unit’s operation was more of intelligence-driven, adding that its operatives could only impound containers that were wrongly released from the ports.

    FOU officers, Ejesieme said, have the power to intercept any container that flouts the government’s fiscal policy.

    He said: “FOU is an enforcement unit of the Nigeria Customs Service and our job is to complement the efforts of every Customs command in the zone.”

    The motive, he said, was to ensure that no importer or clearing agent succeeded in shortchanging the government.

    He appealed to Nigerians to give the unit information that could lead to the arrest of fraudulent importers.

  • Customs ‘not recruiting’

    Customs ‘not recruiting’

    • 12 suspects arrested

    Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) yesterday said it was not conducting an recruitment exercise.

    In a statement, its Public Relations Officer,  Mr.  Wale Adeniyi, said the organisation was  “launching an all-out war against internet fraudsters who specialise in extorting money from innocent Nigerians under the pretext of offering them jobs, auctions or contracts”.

    The statement explained that the  integrated approach on social media, was coming on the heels of recent upsurge of fraudsters using the name of the NCS to solicit for applications for non-existent job offers for a fee that is usually paid into personal bank accounts.

    The statement read: “The advert circulating on the WhatsApp platform is the latest of those criminal attempts to mislead desperate job-seekers.

    “The post which went viral over the weekend is a copy and paste reproduction of the previous recruitment adverts, with a clever insertion of the Service website address. To achieve their criminal objective, the same advert directs applicants to visit a fake website which is www.customsrecruit.com.ng. Victims are eventually requested to make some payments to complete the phoney forms.

    “Already 12 suspects have been arrested and will soon be charged to court.

    “The general public is therefore advised to discountenance such advertisements found in any online platforms except those released in the NCS authentic and authoritative platforms- www.customs.gov.ng and www.facebook.com/customsng.

    “To avoid being victims, all prospective job seekers, and those who want to transact any business with the Service are advised to note the official online platforms as well as visit the nearest Customs station when in doubt.”

  • Enhanced revenue collection: Customs embark on census of industries

    The Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali, yesterday in Kano declared that the Service would soon embark on a census of industries and factories to take proper inventory of all the existing firms for accurate revenue generation drive.

    He also underscored the need for indigenous industrialisation, saying that it is the only way to curb the activities of smugglers and that the measure is to ensure and ascertain that all firms pay their excise duties into the coffers of the federal government through proper data collection.

    Ali, who spoke during a stakeholders meeting held in Kano, however, decried the dwindling revenue generation in the Service, just as he charged the stakeholders to cooperate with Customs in their drive to meet the set target.

    He said: “The idea for this meeting is for us to exchange ideas and for us to keep talking to see how we can create understanding. Secondly, we want to see how we can support you in as much as we are doing our own job. You are key to what we are doing. If there is no understanding we cannot get it right.

    “This is why we should strive to understand ourselves and create the right atmosphere. Meetings like this will give us that impetus to understand ourselves. As a stakeholder, as an importer, what are you supposed to do, where do you suppose to start your journey and where do you end your journey? These are very important issues and very germane to doing business.

    “I want to tell you that what is important is that Customs is suppose to collect revenue. In developing nations, revenue collection is the key because whatever we collect contributes to the GDP of the country. Whatever we collect goes into the treasury and falls back into the system because that is the money that we use to run and oil the system.

    “But most importantly, globally, is the fact that Customs is now moving from revenue generation to the key of its existence, which is trade facilitation. Trade facilitation is key to Customs duty, and why is this so? In countries that are developed, revenue generation is no longer part of their own agenda, but in our case, we pay more attention to revenue coming from importation because 99 per of our requirement in Nigeria comes through importation. It is only per cent is what we do.

    “I give you an example with rice. We consume about two million metric tons of rice in Nigeria every year. Out of six million metric tons, we only produce two million metric tons; therefore, where do we get the balance from—it is from importation of rice? It is not good news, despite the fact that God has given us everything that we need to grow rice.

    As Customs service, I will be very glad to collect excise duties than to collect import duty. Simply put, excise duty means our industries are growing and we are developing our economy. Import duty means killing our economy and growing someone else’s economy.

    “So, we request that we must begin to reorient ourselves; we must begin to think about exporting than import. Customs will be very glad to collect more money from export than money from import. When it comes to export, we don’t need to work much because today, they say that the dollar is scarce. You are suffering as traders and we that are supposed to collect revenue are also suffering because we are not realising anything.

    “Coming back to the realities of what we do, we are the enforcers of law and we ensure that the laws are followed in export, import and trade facilitation; we ensure that all the laws that are put there are adhered to. But where we have problem is that most of our traders are still entangled in the problem of non-compliance.

    “We have cases where you know that the goods you are bringing require 30 per cent, but you will go and get an agent who will undervalue it to five per cent. With such attitude, we can never have a robust relationship that is established globally; and we can never be there.”

    The Customs boss who decried cases of officers conniving with smugglers said his office has mapped out modalities on how to put fraudulent officers in check.

    He also pleaded with stakeholders to create avenue of trust, pointing out that without trust and understanding in transacting business with the Customs, the revenue generation will be on a lower ebb and the country’s economy will continue to suffer.

  • Army trains Customs personnel on use of AK47 rifle, others

    The Nigerian Army at the weekend certified 62 of their personnel fit to handle AK47 rifles. This followed the enhancement of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) fire power.

    The was after a four-week course on weapon handling, armoury management and physical fitness conducted at the 9 Brigade, Nigerian Army in Lagos.

    Of the 62 NCS personnel drafted from the Kirikiri Lighter Terminal Command, Apapa, to be the first batch of personnel to handle the AK47 rifle, four were women.

    Praising the NCS for ensuring professional competence among its men, the 9 Brigade Commander, Gen. Bulama Biu expressed confidence that the graduands were better prepared to tackle smugglers.

    His words: “We were tasked by the Army headquarters to conduct four-week training for the NCS personnel in line with the Comptroller-General’s drive to re-proffessionalise the NCS for optimal service delivery, as well as the Chief of Army Staff’s vision to assist and cooperate with other security agencies.

    “You are aware that the country and the world at large are undergoing numerous dimensions of security and economic challenges. As government agency charged with the responsibility of revenue generation and anti-smuggling, it is expedient that you sharpen your skills at all times to be better prepared for law enforcement.

    “To this end, the trainees went through series of physical fitness regimes which included training on the obstacles, crossing course among other fitness drills.”

    In his remark, the Commander, Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) BEECROFT, Commodore Abraham Adaji urged them to be disciplined.

    Adaji, who was the special guest at the event, expressed satisfaction on the spirit of sportsmanship among the security agencies.

    “I am sure that with this training, the graduands are better prepared to take on their task in combating smugglers and how to stay safe while doing that.

    “That this training was conducted at the 9 Brigade is a testimony of the growing cooperation among security agencies, which is not only in the area of training, but also during operations,” he said.

    NCS’ Controller-General, Hameed Ali urged the graduands to effectively utilise the knowledge gained for the good of the nation.

    Ali, who was represented by Customs Zone A Coordinator, Charles Edike said: “The training will be put to use. There has been a very strong synergy between the Customs and the Navy and that has resulted to seizures around the Zone A on monthly basis.

    “There are many creeks on the zone, and even if you line up all the NCS men, they cannot cover all the areas. That is where the Navy comes in handy. They go to the sea and they see those vessels that do not come to port. So, whenever they see them, they contact us,” he said.

  • Customs, police, agents in row over extortion

    Customs, police, agents in row over extortion

    What do agents have against the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), the police and other agencies at the ports? The Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) is accusing Customs, police, Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and Plant Quarantine Service (PQS) of extortion.

    But Customs and police deny the claim, accusing ANLCA of attempting to compromise their operatives.

    Customs claimed that the agents made insincere declaration and tried to compromise officers to bend the rules.

    A senior officer at the port also told The Nation that the police have the right to investigate cases of stealing, false declaration and forgery.

    “Our job at the port is to maintain law and order. But when we receive complaint about stealing and forgery, are the agents telling us that we should look the other way and not investigate the matter?

    The group had said: “We want to inform the Federal Government and the general public that ANLCA may seek self-help by withdrawing our services from the ports until the unchecked extortion in the port is stopped.”

    It alleged that in the last eight months, its members had been constantly extorted by Customs’ officers and there has not been any intervention from the Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC).

    ANLCA noted that the Pre-arrival Assessment Reports (PAAR) was a good innovation of the last administration of Customs under Abdullahi Dikko, but the PAAR has been bastardised under Alli.

    “Agents, unlike before now, cannot state precisely how much they can use to clear cargoes from the port because of the preponderance  of extortion and interventions by various units of Customs, including valuation, query and amendments, CIU and so on.

    “We now have situations whereby more than one PAAR is issued on one consignment and the PAAR is constantly queried,” they said.

    ANLCA also alleged that the Plant Quarantine usually stops the release of imported consignment under various excuses.

    “We now have a situation where different departments of Police now write to stop the release of cargoes under the pretext that they were investigating cases of stealing, false declaration and forgery.

    The group urged the Federal Government and the Ministers of Finance and Transport to investigate the matter.

    But Customs Tin-Can Island command’s Public Relations Officer (PRO) Mr Chris Osunkwo described the allegation as baseless and fabricated.

    He said if any importer disobeys any import law, Customs has the power to prevent the goods from exiting the gate through the various mechanism it has put in place.

    The Customs, Osunkwo said, has the power to delay or intercept any container that is against the Federal Government’s fiscal policy.

    “When you fail to document properly, Customs will ask you questions in order to ensure transparency and standard.

    “We have always said that whenever you make an honest declaration, Customs will release your goods within the stipulated period.

    “The Customs is concerned with revenue generation for the country and security of what comes in and goes out of the country.

    He said importers should be blamed whenever goods were delayed at the port because of improper declaration.

    Osunkwo urged clearing agents, importers and other port users to play by the rules to avoid delays.

    The motive, he said, was to ensure that no importer or clearing agent succeeded in shortchanging the government.

    He urged importers and clearing agents to always obey the rules

    ANLCA also accused the Federal Government of contributing to the extortion because its emphasis on revenue generation rather than trade facilitation by the Customs.

    ANLCA said it is time for the government to strike a balance between trade facilitation and revenue generation by the Customs.

    ANLCA also accused the Police and other government agencies at the ports of hampering cargo delivery process and time.