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Tag: Joseph Attah

  • Customs generates over N49m on e-auction

    Customs generates over N49m on e-auction

    The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) said it generated N49 million on e-auction platform and recorded 254 winners in four weeks across the country.

    The Service Public Relations Officer, Mr Joseph Attah, announced this in a statement on Friday in Abuja.

    Attah said that 6,560 persons were able to recharge their e-wallet of N1000 administrative fee and participated in the bidding process.

    Attah explained that with 19 commercial banks hooked to the platform,interested bidders now have the option of choosing banks nearest to them for ease of
    transactions.

    “Four weeks after the official launch of the NCS e-auction platform, https: app.trade.gov.ng/eauction by the Comptroller-General of Customs, retired Col. Hameed Ali, a total number of 254 winners have emerged across the country with over N49 million already generated.

    “NCS has already taken steps to deal with the challenges posed by fraudulent bidders who log in to frustrate other genuine bidders by
    placing bogus and unrealistic figures.

    “In some cases, they send SMS to supposed winners congratulating them. Apart from de-activating the Tax Identification Numbers (TIN) of these elements,the option for second highest bidder to win when the highest winner fails to pay has been jettisoned.

    “In such situation, the item reverts to the system for fresh bidding. Winners are informed only through e-mails from the system not by SMS,” Attah said.

    According to him, the System is being re-programmed to automatically reject such criminal antics

    Attah advised fraudulent bidders to keep off the platform and allow interested Nigerians to reap the benefits of the transparent system that presented equal opportunity to all.

    He said that NCS resolve to ensure the success of the e-auction, was motivated by the inherent benefits of the platform.

    Attah said that the platform was secured, provided opportunity to generate more revenue for government an gave equal opportunities to all interested persons.

    He added that the platform was transparent, accountable and free from vices associated with manual process of the past.

    “For the avoidance of doubt, NCS wishes to assure the general public that the e-auction platform will continue to go live for 48 hours
    between Monday, 12 noon to Wednesday, 12 noon every week,” he added.

  • Customs to officially deploy e-auction platform – Official

    Mr Joseph Attah, Public Relations Officer, Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) says in a matter of days, the service will officially deploy electronic auction platform for Nigerians.

    Attah announced this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Abuja.

    He said that interested Nigerians who wanted to be part of the system should approach the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) to acquire the Tax Identification Number (TIN).

    “I told you earlier that the electronic auction platform is ready and undergoing a User Acceptability Test (UAT).

    “In a matter of days, it is going to be officially deployed for Nigerians.

    “Those who want to be part of this system should approach the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) to acquire the tax Identification Number (TIN). That is what it takes, they should get that ready,”Attah said.

    On bonded terminal licence, Attah said that NCS was ready to license operators who secured a N50 million bank bond to operate a vehicle terminal.

    He said that the Service was ready to begin issuance of licence, adding that there were already positive responses from the public.

    “A lot of people have indicated interest and the process is on-going.

    “ NCS is ready for the issuance of licences to people who are interested.

    “What it takes is for interested persons to acquire a big land, fence it and have Customs section within; a workstation with connectivity and computer system that can easily connect to the Customs server.

    “Such person will also be required to enter into a bank bond of N50 million.

    “He or she will now apply through the Customs Area Comptroller of the command that he wants to site the terminal to the Comptroller General,” he said.

    NAN reports that Comptroller General of Customs (CGC), retired Col. Hameed Ali, rolled out the policy after banning the importation of vehicles through the land borders in January.

    On the recent removal of HND dichotomy in Customs, Attah said that the reaction had been positive and morale lifting across the commands.

    Attah said that with the singular decision, officers and men saying that the CGC had written his name in gold because he restored dignity, integrity and pride of the affected officers.

    “In my own view, reducing the rank of an HND holder because he does not have a B.Sc was not a perfect decision.

    “The CGC, in keeping with his reform agenda, has done what needed to have been done many years back.

    “ He has restored laughter and happiness and by the grace of God, we are expecting higher productivity,” Attah said.

  • Customs redeploy 48 officers

    Customs redeploy 48 officers

    In an ongoing reform at the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), The Controller General of Customs Col. Hameed Ali (Rtd) has approved the redeployment of some controllers of customs.

    This was contained in a statement issued on Thursday by The NCS Public Relations Officer, Joseph Attah.

    According to the statement, in a major re-jigging of the Service for effective and efficient service delivery, the Comptroller-General of Customs approved the redeployment of 48 Comptrollers of the service. 

    It also revealed that some of the officers who have been moved includes:Comptroller Madugu, M.J from Sokoto/Kebbi/Zamfara to Ogun Command, Comptroller Udo-aka, E.A from Investigation to Oyo/Osun Command and Compt. Isiyaku, K from Tariff and Trade to Port Harcourt 1 among others. 

    According to the statement, the Comptroller-General’s Compliance team has been disbanded and a new team reconstituted. The new Compliance team is divided into three. Team A for Western Axis, B for Northern axis and C for Eastern axis. They are to complement the Federal Operations Units in order to vigorously crackdown on all forms of smuggling activities nationwide with particular focus on the enforcement of non-importation of rice and vehicles through the land borders.

    The new CGC’s Compliance team will be coordinated by Comptroller Azarema, A.A who before now has been the Comptroller License and Permit at the NCS HQ. The Axis will be led by Assistant Comptrollers of Customs.

    While calling on relevant stake holders to support the service by being compliant, the CGC expressed his determination to strategically re-position the Service as a crucial contributor to the success story of the nation,he added that all revenues must be collected, leaving no room for leakages. 

  • Customs restricts exit of rice from free trade zones – Official

    The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) said it has restricted the exit of rice from Free Trade Zones (FTZs) in the country to ensure total compliance to the ban on the importation of rice.

    Mr. Joseph Attah, the Public Relations Officer of NSC told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja, that the Service has taken its war against rice smuggling to the FTZs.

    Attah said that due to the high level of security along the border lines, some Nigerians were taking advantage of the status of the FTZ to smuggle rice into the country.

    “Just last week the Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Col. Hameed Ali, issued a directive that no rice should exit from FTZ into the country. We know that the FTZ enjoys special status under the law.

    “It is known as a country within a country. That is why some items that are not allowed in the country are allowed by law to be imported into the country by the operators in the FTZ.

    “However, the NSC has discovered that some operators are taking advantage of the status of the FTZ. They now circumvent the law restricting rice importation through the land borders.

    “So if we block the land borders and allow operators of FTZ to bring in rice through the seaport into the FTZ and then exit into Nigeria, our efforts at the land borders will be in vain,” Attah said

    He explained that the FTZ was a land of its own, as such the law that apply to the land border should also be apply to the FTZ because it is a land, and “between the two borders, there is no seaport.”

  • ‘Seized vehicles in Kano not linked to any Senator’

    Mr. Joseph Attah, Acting Public Relations Officer, Nigeria Customs Service(NCS), says the ongoing investigation on the seized vehicles in Kano state has not been linked to any Senator.

    Attah announced this in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja.

    Attah said the allegation was false and capable of misleading the general public.

    “Since this is capable of misleading the public into wrong insinuations, it is imperative to state the fact that the operatives of NCS Compliance Team, based on credible intelligence, trailed the movement of some smuggled vehicles from Maigatari, Jigawa State, to a house at Magaji Rumfa, GRA Kano.

    “On Feb.7, 2017,  some 11 vehicles, 10 Hilux and one Land cruiser jeep were retrieved from the house at Magaji Rumfa GRA, Kano and taken for detention at the Headquarter of Customs Area Command Kano.

    “The Customs officers discovered there were no occupants in the house, hence the gate was forced opened to retrieve the smuggled vehicles.

    “The investigation into the smuggling of the vehicles is still on to establish the true owner.

    “It is clear that whoever introduced the Senator angle to the story is out for pure mischief and does not represent the position of the service on this issue,” Attah said.

    He called on Nigerians to discountenance the false and misleading report.