The Nation Newspaper

Tag: customs

  • Army partners Customs

    The Commander 9 Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Brigadier General A. M. Sabo, paid a courtesy visit to the Area Controller, Federal Operations Unit Zone ‘A’ of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Turaki Adamu in his office.

    The Brigade Commander said his visit was informed by the desire of the Nigeria Army to further strengthen the relationship between the Army and Customs.

    He expressed satisfaction with the cordial relationship between the Military and the Customs, noting that such mutual understanding would further enhance mutual cooperation.

    He praised the Customs Management under the Comptroller-General of Customs for the reforms which had been carried out in the Service.

    Turaki thanked the Brigade Commander for the visit, adding that it would afford the two agencies the opportunity to further cement their relationship.

     

  • Customs intercepts N122.5m smuggled goods

    Customs intercepts N122.5m smuggled goods

    The Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone “A’’ of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intercepted smuggled goods with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N122.5 million.

    Its Public Relations Officer (PRO), Mr Uche Ejesieme told reporters in Lagos yesterday: “The unit was able to effect 205 different seizures of assorted, offending and prohibited items with a Duty Paid Value of N122, 521,030.

    “Some of the seized items include; foreign parboiled rice, 53 different seizures in different locations and those different seizures translated into 3,003 bags of 50kg parboiled rice, with a Duty Paid Value of N19, 501,306.

    “For smuggled frozen poultry products, we had 45 different seizures from different locations translating into 6,713 cartoons of the product with a Duty Paid Value of N36, 250,000.20.

    “We also had seizures of vehicles coming from unapproved routes and some of them trying to invade payment of appropriate taxes and levy and in that regard we intercepted 46 of such vehicles.

    “Thirty-three of them being pure Tokunbo (Used) and 65 of them regard as scraps and the DPV total N36, 220,500.’’

    Ejesieme said the command also seized new and used textile materials, foot wear, vegetable oil, mosquito insecticides, spaghettis, soaps, wine and used tyres.

    According to him, the seized goods is over N30.5 million.

    Quoting the controller in charge of the command, Turaki Adamu, he said: “We have waged a relentless war on smugglers and our focus remains identifying illegal entering points and the essence of that is to ensure that we dismantle them and by extension cutting their supply chains.

    “This is what we have been doing over time; we are not resting on our oars and the assurance is that we are beginning to have collaboration and support with members of the public. Recently, we revived our concept of customs community relationship. It is a platform whereby we engage stakeholders, trying to sensitise and educate them on the dangers of smuggling, particularly those of them living at those fringes of the border areas, so that they will be well acquainted with the effect of smuggling to the nation’s economy and also to their lives.’’

  • Customs siezes N294.4m goods in first quarter

    The Federal Operations Unit (F.O.U) of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), Zone ‘A’ Ikeja, lAGOS, has recorded 482 seizures with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N294.4 million in the first quarter of the year.

    This is contained in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday in Lagos by the Public Relations Officer of the unit, Mr Uche Ejesieme.

    According to the statement, 36 suspects were apprehended in connection with the seizures.

    It explained that the seizures made in the period under review, represented 45 per cent increase when compared to seizures made in the corresponding period of 2014.

    A breakdown showed that 8,584 bags of rice with a DPV of N55.7 million were impounded, while 11,647 cartons of frozen poultry products with a DPV of N62.8 million were also intercepted.

    Also, 86 units of assorted fairly-used vehicles valued at N108.5 million were seized.

    The statement noted that other seized goods were: textiles, foot wears, vegetable oil, insecticides, wine, soaps and spaghetti, all with a DPV of N67.2 million.

    “The war against smuggling, no doubt, is a herculean task, because of the natural tendency for smugglers to fight back each time their goods are seized.

    ‘‘However, we have remained undeterred, as we believe that we have a responsibility to secure the nation against influx of prohibited goods.

    “We will not abdicate this responsibility for whatever reason,’’ the statement said.

    The service urged Nigerians to support it through genuine information which could assist in tracking smugglers and their routes.

    “We have institutionalised the concept of Customs Community Relations (CCR), which is meant to provide an enabling environment for operations in our places of assignment … we have incorporated ICT in our anti-smuggling drive and the resultant effect has been phenomenal,’’ it said.

     

  • Customs ‘now well equipped to face smugglers’

    Customs Comptroller-Gen-eral Alhaji Dikko Abdulahi has urged his men to use their two newly acquired vessels to fight smugglers, block leakages and stem criminalities on the waterways.

    He said the vessels, christened Customs Pride and Group of Nine, in honour of nine marine officers who died in battle with smugglers in 2012, were acquired to fight smugglers and boost revenue.

    Speaking at their inauguration in Lagos last week, Dikko said with the vessels, marine officers would no longer have reason for not being able to arrest smugglers.

    He said: “Of course, they (marine officers) have no excuse again, if they do not arrest smugglers with these vessels, then it means they are the smugglers.

    “This is part of our six point agenda. We have to do whatever is needful to make sure that we excel and this is part of the equipment we need to perform our duties.

    “Apart from coming to inspect these vessels, I have gone through my commands and informed them that we have to recover the shortfall we had in the past weeks and make sure that we meet the expectation of our target. I am sure we will meet up.

    “We have just concluded the general election and Customs was part of the security agencies that performed in that election. The reason we were part of the election was based on trust. So we have to show that exemplary behaviour on revenue so that when the new government comes, government will know that men of the NCS are doing their best and they can key into the new government as they were in the last government,” he said.

    The newly acquired vessels are fitted with integrated computer-based equipment including in-built radar, wind vein, electronic chart and speed capacity.

    Captain of Customs Pride Mr. Babatunde Lawal, pointed out the features of the patrol boat, saying it has navigational aids and bullet-proof windows, among others.

    “We can read the condition of the wind, we can equally read information about the vessels around us; we have the electronic chat there, and with the information gadgets on board, we can speak with somebody in London; we have similar provision at all our formation so we can as well relate with all of them in terms of emergency and arrests.

    “We may experience resistance from whoever we want to arrest, so there is a device to fix a high calibre gun in the front and at the back.

    “The ship can accommodate 20 people on the average including VIP Cabin and Captain Cabin.

    “We can also get any distress call from anywhere around the world online,” Lawal said.

    Dikko also urged all senior officers to ensure that all revenue loopholes are blocked to make up for the shortfall recorded in the first quarter of the year, which he said was as a result of the just concluded general elections.

    Meanwhile, the Area Comptroller, Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone ‘C’ Imo State, Mr Victor Dimka said the unit seized over N500 million worth of goods between January and last month. He said 56 suspects were arrested in connection with 140 seizures made at different areas within his jurisdiction.

    Dimka said the unit recorded 140 seizures with Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N501, 026, 822:00.  The breakdown included 37 seizures made in January, with a DPV of N176,483,600,40 seizures with a DPV of N136,708,650 made in February and 63 seizures with a DPV of N187,834,572 recorded in March.

    According to him, seizures included 108 vehicles, three trucks containing 384 bags of 50kg foreign rice, two trucks of 2,126 cartons of imported frozen poultry products, three trucks of 1,181 pieces of used tyres, three trucks containing 780 bales of textile materials, two truckloads of cartons of foreign vegetable oil with other items such as used hand bags, cartons of foreign beverages and 1,755 pieces of imported foot wear.

    The NCS chief, who reiterated the commitment of his officers and men to rid the zone of smuggling activities, said a total of 56 suspects arrested in connection with the seizures are in detention pending investigation.

    He said the suspects would be prosecuted to deter others.

    Dimka also warned those involved in the illegal business to desist from the criminal act, stating that the NCS is now better trained and equipped with sophisticated tools to fight smuggling to its lowest ebb.

    He also advised members of the public with useful information about smuggling to always make them available to his officers for necessary action, assuring that such information would be treated with the necessary confidentiality they deserve.

     

  • Customs gets vessels to fight smugglers

    With the acquisition of two new ocean vessels to boost its operation, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) is set to fight smugglers.

    The vessels, christened Customs Pride and Group of Nine, have berthed at the Grimaldi Jetty in Apapa, Lagos.

    They are the first to be acquired by the Customs Area Controller, Western Marine Command, Apapa, Yusuf Umar, said the vessels would help in policing the waters, boost revenue and checkmate smugglers.

    The vessels would boost the command’s war against smuggling adding: “Seeing the vessels, he said, on water will send signals to smugglers and oil thieves and others engaged in illegal activities on the waters because we can pursue them with the vessels to any length.”

    Umar said the vessels would be inaugurated soon.

    “We are awaiting further directives from the headquarters on when the Comptroller-General will commission the vessels. This is a landmark achievement by the management of the service,” he said.

    Built in Turkey, the vessels are equipped with communication gadgets including high radar to enable it pick distant signals.

  • Customs intercepts fairly used tyres

    Customs intercepts fairly used tyres

    The Nigeria Customs Headquarters Monitoring Team, Idiroko axis, has intercepted large quantity of prohibited goods along the Lagos/Shagamu Expressway.

    This declaration was made by the Comptroller, Federal Operations Unit Zone ‘A’ Ikeja, Comptroller Turaki Usman Adamu, during one of his media chats recently.

    He disclosed that the headquarters monitoring team headed by AC Yahaya Usman Biri, in company of other officers and men, while acting on a tip off recently intercepted a Mandiesel truck with registration no AGB 106 ZD along the Lagos/Shagamu Expressway.

    In line with the practice of ensuring 100% physical examination on such suspected vehicles, the truck was taken to the headquarters of the Nigeria Customs Service, Federal Operations Unit, Ikeja where examination was conducted and the following items were uncovered: 626 pieces of used tyres, 152 cartons of ceramic tiles and 11 pieces of plastic bowls.

    Other items recovered were 266 pieces of flower ports and 86 bundles of plastic containers, to mention just a few.

    From the physical examination, it became evident that all those other items were used to carefully conceal 626 fairly used tyres. The comptroller stated the goods are in clear contravention of sections 46 and 47 of the Customs & Excise Management act Cap C45 LFN 2004 as amended.

  • NAHCO chair commends Customs boss

    Chairman, Nigerian Aviation Handling Company Plc (nahco aviance), Mallam Suleiman Yahyah, has commended the Custom Area Commander (CAC), Murtala Muhammed International Airport Command, Mr. Folorunso Adegoke, for his efforts in providing the enabling environment to boost cargo revenues.

    He spoke during a courtesy visit to the CAC. He said the CAC is a blessing to the command and to nahco aviance. “The kind of sentiment being expressed by everyone as it concerns you is a pointer to the fact that you are a game changer, and we are proud of you. Your team has changed the game plan. This will help revenue to increase and the customer satisfaction will be achieved,” he said.

    Yahyah said in the past two months, there had been no reported case of theft. He attributed this to measures put in place by NAHCO and the Customs. He advised the Adegoke to regularly sit down with his team to align them with the overall objective of the measures put in place. He said this would reduce tension in the system.

    On his part, the Custom boss said the reduction in the incidence of theft arose from the fact that appropriate capturing is being carried out by his men. This he said has greatly helped. “We have a system that captures everything and everything is being recorded accordingly,” he said.

    He further explained that what the customs does now is to capture the details of the person(s) to whom consignments are delivered.  He said if after the consignment had been delivered, it was found out that other goods were concealed under the delivered cargo, the Customs goes after the consignee.

    He said: “Once a particular trader is compliant, he has no issues with us. Once there is compliance, there won’t be any issue; it is non- compliance that can alter the peace. Kindly report anyone with issues.”

    The Managing Director, nahco aviance, Mr. Norbert Bielderman, expressed his appreciation of the excellent working relationship with the Customs Area Commander.  He said the feedback he had received so far from his managers were quite encouraging. He, therefore, called on the CAC to keep up the tempo.

     

  • Customs sanctions 20 officers for ‘illegal acts’

    The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) said yesterday that it sanctioned 20 senior officers in the last two months for various illegal acts.

    The Service Public Relations Officer, Wale Adeniyi,  in a statement in Abuja, said nine officers were suspended, pending the outcome of investigations.

    He said:  “Eleven others are facing investigative panels set up by the Comptroller-General of Customs, Dikko Abdullahi.

    “Five of them, including a Deputy Comptroller serving in Apapa Port, had appeared before the panel for negligence and improper examination of containers.

    “The others appeared before the same panel for offences ranging from hacking of passwords, falsification of academic certificates, negligence and general indiscipline.

    “Also mid-level management officers serving in the ports were also affected in the recent action as five Assistant Comptrollers serving in Tin Can Island Port were among those suspended from service for improper release of seizures.

    “Two others, also Assistant Superintendents serving in Seme Command, were suspended for alleged rape, an offence said to have been committed in Badagry area of Lagos.’’

    Adeniyi said the Comptroller-General had expressed regrets that the involvement of young officers recently recruited into the service in various illegal acts was worrisome.

    “Abdullahi had warned that the service will not tolerate such officers, noting that the machinery for investigations in the service will be strengthened to punish erring officers,” he said.

    Speaking on checkpoints, Adeniyi said the service would go after officers operating illegal checkpoints.

    He said the Comptroller-General had acknowledged persistent complaints on some routes, particularly around Kogi, Ondo and Edo states.

    “Abdullahi had assured motorists that special units of his office will conduct special surveillance operation to apprehend the culprits.”

    He also warned that officers operating such illegal check points would be severely punished.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalled that the service had earlier suspended three Assistant Superintendent of Customs for allegedly extorting $13,000 at the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja.

    The officers allegedly extorted the money during the outward clearance of the passengers on Emirates Airline flight.

    The suspension now brings to 23 the number of those suspended by the NCS between January and March.

  • Customs boss restates ban on roadblocks

    THE Comptroller-General, Nigeria Customs Service, Alhaji Dikko Abdullahi, has restated that the ban on roadblocks and checkpoints by men of the service in the hinterland within the country is still in force.

    Abdullahi restated this when he received the Managing Director of News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Mr. Ima Niboro, on Tuesday in Abuja.

    He said officers of the service could only intercept vehicles in the hinterland based on credible information, either that the vehicle carried contraband or smuggled goods.

    He restated his stand on banning of roadblocks because “it is not dignified and it is not in our character to mount roadblocks in the hinterland.

    “Our job is at the border; it is 40 kilometres radius within the border area where our officers are allowed to mount road blocks to check whatever goods that are brought into the country.

  • CBN orders NNPC, Customs to shut revenue accounts

    CBN orders NNPC, Customs to shut revenue accounts

    •’No plan to scrap domiciliary accounts’

    The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) yesterday directed Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to close all their revenue accounts in deposit money banks (DMBs) latest tomorrow.

    The MDAs to be affected by the order include the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, Nigeria Customs Service, Code of Conduct Bureau, Code of Conduct Tribunal, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Federal Ministry of Aviation and Federal Civil Service Commission.

    Others include the Federal Inland Revenue Service, Federal Road Safety Commission, Independent National Electoral Commission, Federal Ministry of Defence, National Population Commission, National Salaries Incomes & Wages Commission, Nigerian Investment Promotion Council, Nigeria Police Force to mention but a few.

    CBN Director, Banking and Payment System Unit, ‘Dipo Fatokun who gave the directive in a circular to DMBs said the order followed the commencement of the Federal Government’s Independent Revenue e-Collection Scheme.

    He explained that banks’ branches by now, are expected to have been setup and sensitised, and their internet banking platform configured for use by revenue payers.

    This, he said, would make it possible for the banks to make transfers to the Federal Government e-Collection account, which will be transfered to the Consolidated Revenue Funds (CRF) as agreed between the CBN, Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF) and the banks.

    Fatokun said the OAGF has already issued a treasury circular to all MDAs to close existing revenue accounts in banks not later than February 28, and transfer available funds to CRF.

    The CBN has also denied report that it is planning to convert the foreign currency domiciliary account deposits in dollar or pounds sterling of customers in banks into naira.

    CBN Director of Communications, Ibrahim Mu’azu said the regulator never contemplated such action, and never intended to do so. It assured customers of banks that there is no intention to tamper with the foreign currency accounts.