The Nation Newspaper

Tag: customs

  • Why Buhari gave Ali Customs job

    Why Buhari gave Ali Customs job

    The need to get the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) to optimise its potential as the nation’s cash cow informed President Muhammadu Buhari’s appointment of Col. Hameed Ali as its Comptroller-General, the Presidency said at the weekend.

    Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the President on Media and Publicity Mallam Garba Shehu said the government believes that the Customs Service could triple its revenue target.

    Fielding questions from reporters, he said: “Do you, in all sincerity, know Col. Hameed Ali?

    “If you do know him, how many of his types do we have in this country? This is the man who many probably felt should have gone to head the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). But, looking at the critical place of the Customs in the economy of this country, you need somebody like him.

    “After oil, the next revenue spinner for the government is the Customs. In these few days we have been listening to briefings, I have seen people flying ideas that Customs revenue can be tripled and that there are ideas that can lead to the revenue being tripled on the basis that corruption is eliminated.

    “I think that Col. Ali has a rare breed of reputation that will be difficult to find. There might be a few people in the Customs, but maybe they are too low in rank to warrant this appointment.

    “I think the President has done the best thing anybody can do for the Customs and for the economy of this country. Otherwise, smuggling will ruin Nigeria.  Look at what is happening in the textile industry in Aba, Ikeja, Kaduna, Kano and Gashua.

    “There was a time when they used to employ about 400,000 people. All the textile companies in the country today can no longer employ more than 30,000 people. We have more Nigerians in need of clothing today than those so-called glorious days of the textile industry.  This is just one example.

    “Look at the issue of rice. Ebonyi,  Anambra,  Niger,  Osun,  Kebbi,  Sokoto and Kogi states have been brought together by the President and given the marching  order to produce the rice need of this country. The rice industry in this country has failed because cheap Asian rice is being dumped here. The President did not ban importation because that would have offended the World Trade organisation (WTO).

    “What he has done is to say if you want to import rice, go and source your dollars anywhere you can get it. But the CBN and the banks will always supply to manufacturers who want to bring in spare parts, equipment and employ Nigerians and for those who want to pay for medical bills abroad and maybe for school fees.

  • New Customs chief yet to resume

    New Customs chief yet to resume

    The new Comptroller-General, Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Col. Hammed Ali (rtd) was yet to assume office, it was learnt yesterday.

    Officers and men of NCS have been apprehensive about the appointment of the new helmsman, whom they said is a “no nonsense man.”

    Ali’s appointment last week was expected to be with immediate effect, but the tension that gripped the Customs Headquarters, Zone 3, Wuse, Abuja has not letf.

    Its Deputy Public Relations Officer, Mr. Joseph Attah  who spoke on phone with  The Nation only said: “please no” to questions asked him.

    It was however learnt that President Muhammadu Buhari would inaugurate the new appointees and give them terms of reference before assumption of office.

    Our reporter also gathered that the management of the NCS is expecting the new boss this week.

  • Customs impounds two bulletproof SUVs

    Customs impounds two bulletproof SUVs

    The Nigeria Customs Service,Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone ‘C’, Owerri has seized another two bullet proof Prado Sports Utility Vehicles (SUVs) among other vehicles and contraband goods on Aba/Eleme axis and Agbor-Benin Expressway.

    The seizures came barely a week after the unit seized 100 vehicles with fake documents on the Benin Expressway, Agbor-Asaba and Aba/Owerri highways.

    The Duty Paid Value (DPV) on the seized items is N545,651,050.

    Speaking with The Nation, its Area Controller, Mr David Dimka, said the seized items included 85 bales of second hand clothings with DPV of N8,160,000 and one 40ft container containing 373 bales of used school bags with a DPV of N22,477,200.

    “A total of 13 smuggled vehicles, all brand new models that include: two bullet-proof Prado Jeeps, nine Toyota Landcruiser Prado and three Toyota Corolla cars with DPV of N285,242,000 were seized by the officers of the command.

    “Also, two trucks carrying a total of 1,220 bags of 50kg rice with DPV of N22,814,000 were impounded among other smuggled trucks with DPV of N110,187,000 and many cartons of imported frozen poultry products with DPV of N96,770,840 which we have destroyed,” he said.

    Dimka said while a good number of well meaning Nigerians are appreciative of government’s efforts to rid the nation of corruption in its ramification, some smugglers are unrepentantly bent on circumventing the lofty mission for their selfish interest.

    He warned that Customs will not relent in the discharge of its statutory duties until smugglers are brought to their knees and sent to permanent penury. He added that the seized imported bags of rice neither have National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) registration number nor date of expiration.

    The frozen poultry products, he said, were destroyed to spare innocent and unsuspecting consumers from possible health problem or death.

    He commended officials of the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA),  NAFDAC and Department of State Services (DSS) for their sustained support to the Customs in their onslaught against smuggling and enjoined members of the public to supply useful information that will enable the service to attain greater heights in the performances of its functions.

    Dimka said five suspects are helping the Customs in its investigations into the illegal importations of the seized items and warned smugglers that the Customs is better trained, equipped and motivated with necessary logistics to meet its challenges.

     

  • Senate probes Customs, FIRS over ‘illegal’ N567b tax cost

    The Senate yesterday started the investigation of alleged unauthorised expenditure of N567billion by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).

    The N567billion is said to be part of tax collected by the NCS and the FIRS from January 2005 to July this year.

    This is contained in a petition by a non-governmental organisation, Legislative Watch, to the Senate.

    Legislative Watch forwarded its petition to Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki who referred it to the Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions.

    Part of the documents from the Federal Ministry of Finance presented to the committee by Legislative Watch alleged that the average monthly collection cost of the NCS is N2.5 billion.

    The petitioner alleged that the total amount not remitted by NCS to the Federal Government for 126 months (January 2005 to July 2015) is N315billion.

    The same document indicated that the average monthly cost of collection of the FIRS was put at N2billion which puts the total amount not remitted by FIRS over the same period at N252billion.

    The two amounted ro N567 billion as the cost of collection for both agencies.

    Its Executive Secretar, Ngozi Ihuoma, who defended the petition before the Senate Ethics, Privileges and Public Petition Committee claimed that the amount represented the seven per cent cost of tax collection paid to the NCS and the four per cent paid to the FIRS during the period.

    The petitioner claimed that the two agencies deducted the money from the amounted collected on behalf of the Federal Government without appropriation by the National Assembly contrary to the provisions of the constitution.

    Ihuoma claimed that the action of the agencies’ management contravened Sections 162 (3) and 165 of the constitution.

  • Customs redeploys five comptrollers

    The Acting Comptroller-General, Nigeria Customs Service (NCS)    Dr. John Atte, yesterday, approved the redeployment of five Customs comptrollers.

    Its Deputy Public Relations Officer, Mr. Joseph Attah, in a statement listed the redeployed officers as Amade Abdul from Zone A Headquarters, to Federal Operation, Unit A; Azarema Ahmed, Modernisation, to Port Harcourt Area 1 and Madusu Sani from Customs Training College, Ikeja, to Seme border.

    The others are Kuffidan Garba, deployed from Port Harcourt Area 1 to Strategic Research and Policy, Headquarters, and Ndalati Garba, from Seme to Strategic Research and Policy, Headquarters.

    The statement said the redeployment was part of the new resolve to tighten border security and pursue vigorously the achievement of this year’s revenue target.

    Atte, the statement added, advised the officers to take over their new positions immediately and re-sharpen the service apparatus for maximum productivity

  • Customs redeploys 5 comptrollers

    The Acting Comptroller-General of Customs, Dr. John Atte, has approved the redeployment of five customs comptrollers.

    The redeployment is contained in a statement issued by Mr. Joseph Attah, the service Deputy Public Relations Officer, on Tuesday in Abuja.

    The statement listed those redeployed  as Amade Abdul from Zone A Headquarters, to Federal Operation, Unit A; Azarema Ahmed, Modernisation, to Port Harcourt Area 1 and Madusu Sani from Customs Training College, Ikeja, to Seme border.

    The others are Kuffidan Garba, deployed from Port Harcourt Area 1 to Strategic Research and Policy, Headquarters, and Ndalati Garba, from Seme to Strategic Research and Policy, Headquarters.

    The statement said that the redeployment was part of new resolve to tighten border security and pursue vigorously the achievement of the 2015 revenue target.

    It stated that Atte advised the officers to take over their new positions immediately and re-shappen the service apparatus for maximum productivity

  • Eventful exit for Customs chief

    Eventful exit for Customs chief

    A day after resigning as Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Dikko  Abdullahi inaugurated a hospital for the service, accompanied by Kaduna State Governor Nasir el-Rufai and other dignitaries. REMI ADELOWO reports

    Well, it was not a bad way to leave the scene. When Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Dikko Abdullahi bade farewell to the service, he was in good company. In the crowd of top officers  was Kaduna State Governor Nasir el-Rufai.

    There was more than that. Abdullahi also had the honour to flag off a hospital built for NCS staff.

    That Tuesday at the servivce headquarters in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), officers and men of the para-military organisation discussed the exit of their boss.

    Many officers and men of the organisation who spoke to our correspondent, disclosed that the former CG’s era was a turning point in the NCS, with outstanding successes recorded.

    At about midday, the Katsina State-born, accompanied by some aides, left the Customs headquarters for Karu, on the outskirts of Abuja, venue of the commissioning of the ultra-modern Nigeria Customs Service Hospital.

    Other very senior officers, including Deputy Comptrollers General (DCGs), Assistant Comptrollers Generals (ACGs) and Comptrollers soon arrived at the venue for the grand ceremony.

    One hour later, the Special Guest of Honour, Governor Nasir El Rufai of Kaduna State arrived. He was warmly received by Dikko and his management team comprising  DCGs John Atte, A.A Adewuyi, T.A Musa, I.M Mera and A.C Nwosu.

    After a brief inspection of the guard of honour by Governor El Rufai, the event, which was coordinated by the spokesman of the NCS, Wale Adeniyi, a Deputy Comptroller, began in earnest.

    First to come to the podium to give the welcome address was ACG Grace Adeyemo, who was the Chairman of the Hospital Committee. That was quickly followed with a brief remark by the Chief Medical Officer of the NCS, Dr. Nanman Nandang.

    And then came the introduction of the man of the moment, Dikko Inde Abdullahi. His address lasted only three minutes. He explained the vision behind the construction of the hospital, which he noted, was conceived in order to enhance the welfare and health of Customs personnel. He also assured that as part of the Customs’ corporate social responsibility, the hospital would cater for the health challenges of people living within the Karu community and beyond.

    It was now the turn of el-Rufai to deliver his speech. Expectedly he did not disappoint. After commending the Customs’ management for the completion of the multi-billion naira hospital, which boasts of state of the art medical facilities, the governor equally showered encomiums on Abdullahi, whom he said has displayed exemplary leadership attributes as CG of NCS.

    He told the gathering that Abdullahi’s decision to quit when the ovation was loudest bears eloquent testimony to his patriotism and resolve to allow for his younger colleagues to contribute their quota to the development of the organisation.

    The governor said, “The CG’s resignation to allow for the younger generation to run the Customs is highly commendable. While many others in privileged positions are lobbying to retain their seats, the CG (Abdullahi) lobbied to leave. For this, he deserves commendation.”

    He further noted that the successful completion of the hospital could be largely traced to the reforms of the NCS initiated by the administration of ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo, part of which gave the Customs to retain about 10 percent of the revenue it generates.

    He, however, added that beyond the funds available to the NCS to execute the project, the vision and political will of the Abdullahi-led management was largely instrumental to the successful completion of the hospital.

    Shortly afterwards, the governor cut the tape to formally declare the complex open. Thereafter, he and other senior officers were conducted round the hospital by Dr. Nandang.

    Impressed with the sophisticated equipment the hospital boasts off, Governor El Rufai tasked his Commissioner of Health, who was present to look at the possibility of replicating the project in all the local government areas of the state.

    Back to the NCS headquarters, as officers and men of the Service waited in bated breath the countdown to Abdullahi’s last moments on the hot seat.

    The moment everybody had been waiting for finally came. Dikko, accompanied by other senior officers, descended briskly from his office located on the fourth floor, to the parade ground to take his final inspection of a guard of honour mounted by men of the NCS.

    At this point, every available space within the expansive premises had been occupied by officers and men, who left their various officers to capture the occasion with their phones.

     

  • Customs impounds 15 bulletproof vehicles in Imo

    Customs impounds 15 bulletproof vehicles in Imo

    • Destroys 5,364 cartons of poultry products

    The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone ‘C’ has impounded 100 vehicles with fake documents on the Benin Expressway, Agbor-Asaba and Aba/Owerri highways.

    The vehicles included 15 latest models of Toyota Camry (bulletproof car) 2015 model without End-user Certificate, six Land Cruiser Prado Jeep, Land Cruiser VXR, Toyota Fortuner Jeep, Lexus LX 570 and M/Benz CLS 350, all 2014/2015 model worth N346,347,568.

    The seizures came barely one week after the unit seized 42 various contraband with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N197,385,747.

    Aside the exotic vehicles, other items seized  included 5,364 cartons of imported frozen poultry products, which were concealed in Mercedes Benz trucks, with used Jacuzzi bathing tubes, rolls of black polythene nylon bags, and crates of woods lining the walls of the truck, to beat the Customs officers.

    Its Area Controller, Mr Victor Dimka, said four suspects were arrested in connection with the frozen poultry products, while eight were arrested over the smuggled vehicles.

    According to him, the destruction of the poultry products were carried out in the presence of some officials of the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and Defence Security Service (DSS) in line with “Operation Hawk Descend”, recently-launched by the Nigeria Customs Service to checkmate smugglers of frozen poultry products.

    Dimka also said 300 bags of 50kg rice with DPV of N6 million were also seized by his officers at Ikom border in Cross River State; two suspects were also arrested.

    He said “the suspects are helping the Customs in its investigations into the illegal importations of the seized items.”

    He warned smugglers that the Nigeria Customs Service is better trained, equipped and motivated with necessary logistics to meet its challenges.

     

  • Ogun customs seizes hundreds of smuggled cars in raid of syndicate

    Ogun customs seizes hundreds of smuggled cars in raid of syndicate

    A cross-border  car smuggling syndicate has forfeited hundreds of exotic cars to the Ogun Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service for allegedly bringing them in illegally from neighbouring Benin Republic.

    The vehicles were seized during a massive raid at the border town of  Idiroko,Ogun State.

    Also impounded during the raid were  cartons of frozen turkey and dozens of motorcycles  used by rice smugglers.

    Spokesman for the command, Abubakar Usman said the operation was made possible by ” the   vigilance of our men who took  proactive measures to contain the errant smugglers.”

    Usman said the smugglers resorted to firing at the Customs men   once they were intercepted but could not match the superior firepower of the law enforcement officers .

    “Many of the vehicles you are seeing here were intercepted from the notorious syndicate who resisted our men. They were  overpowered  and had to flee abandoning the vehicles,” he said.

    ”We  also seized many motorcycles from rice smugglers, and  cartons of turkey from illicit traders who tried to bring them from the Benin Republic into our territory through the bush .”

    The command said  it generated N3,401,647,417.34 as revenue in the first half of this year  as against   the N2,543,266,323.43 it realized within the corresponding  period in 2014.

    “Our command was able to record 515 seizures with Duty Paid Value(DPV) of N445,399,838.00; as against 733 seizures with DPV of N880,002,012.00 same period in 2014.The difference is 218 seizures with DPV of N434,602,174.00,”  he said.

    He added:“the formidable mechanism put in place by the Customs Area Controller, Mr. Haruna Mahmud, to curtail the menace of smuggling activities in the area led to the successes recorded so far.”

  • Buhari accepts Abdullahi’s resignation from Customs

    Buhari accepts Abdullahi’s resignation from Customs

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday accepted the resignation of the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Alhaji Dikko Abdullahi.

    Abdullahi is billed to proceed on his voluntary retirement from Tuesday, August 18.

    The Customs boss had earlier written a letter dated August 3 to the President notifying him of his desire to proceed on voluntary retirement from Tuesday.

    President Buhari’s approval of Abdullahi’s request was dated August 14 and personally signed by the President.

    In the letter, the President thanked the NCS boss for his services to the county in the last six years.

    The President’s letter, titled “Voluntary retirement from the Nigeria Customs Service” read: “Dear, Alhaji D.I. Abdullahi. I write to acknowledge the receipt of your letter Ref. No. NCS/ADM/HQ/P. 35802 of 3rd August, 2015 conveying your decision to voluntarily retire from the Nigeria Customs Service with effect from Tuesday, 18th August, 2015.

    “I note with appreciation your services to this nation, especially as the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service in the last six (6) years.

    “Accordingly, I hereby approve your voluntary retirement from the Nigeria Customs Service with effect from 18th August 2015.

    “I wish you the very best in your future endeavours.

    “Yours sincerely, Muhammadu Buhari.”

    The Nigeria Customs boss had in his letter to the President thanked him for the confidence and trust reposed on him since he (Buhari) was inaugurated on May 29.

    Stressing that he would be six years in office as the Comptroller-General of the NCS by August 18, he recalled that on assumption of office, he articulated six-point agenda which he vigorously pursued.

    tering understanding of the Service in the eye of the general public using an intensified and a well-coordinated public relations platform.

    Under his tenure, he said that the revenue collection into various coffers of government increased drastically.

    He also pointed out that the Service’s average monthly collection in 2009 when he took over was about N29billion, while the average monthly collection is currently between N90billion and N100billion.

     

    His decision to go on voluntary resignation, he said, was based on the need to allow young bloods to takeover the mantle of leadership of the Service in order to sustain and improve on his legacy.

    “While thanking Your Excellency and indeed Nigerians for the opportunity to serve and contribute my quota to the development of our fatherland, I wish to seek approval of Your Excellency to be allowed to retire voluntarily on 18th August 2015.

    “This decision is taken with a view to allowing young bloods to takeover the mantle of leadership of the Service in order to sustain and improve on my legacy.” He stated

    But the President was yet to name Abdullahi’s successor as at the time of this report.