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Tag: NCS

  • FG slashes import, export documentation requirements

    FG slashes import, export documentation requirements

    The Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun says the Federal Government has reduced documentation requirements for import and export, to facilitate trade.

    Adeosun made this known on Thursday in Lagos at a Sensitisation Workshop with the theme: “Understanding Nigeria’s Revised Import and Export Guidelines, Procedures and Documentation Requirements for Ease of Doing Business’’.

    According to the minister, the measures include the reduction of documentation requirements from 10 to seven, for exports and from 14 to eight, for imports.

    Adeosun, who was represented by the Director, Home Finance, Federal Ministry of Finance, Mrs Olubunmi Siyanbola, said that additional responsibilities had been given to the Nigeria Customs Service ( NCS ), the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and the shipping lines/other carriers.

    Reports say that government’s attention is principally focused on measures to ensure reduction in time spent on processing of export and also to ensure 24-hour clearance of cargo imported into the country.

    The minister announced that the NCS shall coordinate the mandatory joint examination and Sign-Off Form, within the official working hours, including Saturdays.

    “NCS shall make available the shipping manifests to other examination agencies as soon as they are received, to enable enough time for Risk Assessment.

    “Nigeria Integrated Customs Information Systems (NICIS) should be strengthened to accommodate more agencies.

    “Shipping lines shall transmit to the NCS and the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), the cargo manifest, before leaving the last Ports of Call to Nigeria.

    “Shipping lines shall ensure that Nigeria-bound containerised cargo are palletised,’’ Adeosun said.

    The minister said that a new section had been introduced, which stated that the NPA shall receive cargo manifests from shipping lines before the ship leaves the last Port of Call and circulate to other regulatory agencies for Risk Assessment and Profiling.

    Adeosun said that NPA shall be responsible for traffic management of vessels and shall ensure pilotage of vessels.
    The minister commended the efforts of President Muhammadu Buhari toward ensuring the Ease of Doing business, which had started yielding dividends in some areas.

    According to her, in the recent World Bank report, Nigeria had moved up 24 points from 169th position on the 2017 ranking and also 170th position on the 2016 ranking to 145th position in the World Bank’s 2018 report.

    “That is, Nigeria is now in 145th position out of 190 countries in the Ease of Doing Business Index for 2018,’’ she said.
    Adeosun said that government was working relentlessly to quickly put in order the scanning system, so as to eliminate manual examination of goods and other associated delays.

    She said that the Export and Import Guidelines would be fully implemented with effect from January 1, 2018.

    “The Guidelines may not be perfect to address all concerns but government will monitor its implementation closely, to address emerging and unforeseen situations,’’ the minister said.

    In a welcome address, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Finance, Dr Mamoud Isa-Dutse, urged business entities involved in both import and export trading to abide by the provisions of the guidelines.

    The permanent secretary was represented by the Director of Information, Federal Ministry of Finance, Mr Salisu Nainna.

    “Let our efforts in striving to create a lucrative business environment in Nigeria be mutually-reinforcing, to enable us as a country make significant progress.

    “We are duty-bound to foster formal trade not only to block loopholes for leakages of government revenue but also to promote the growth of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, so as to enhance the competitiveness of the economy for our business to continue to prosper.

    “The present government is taking steps toward ensuring 24-hour clearance of cargo using cutting-edge technology.

    “In this direction, efforts are ongoing to revive and upgrade the scanning system as a short-term measure, pending the acquisition of modern High Definition Scanners,’’ Isa-Dutse said.

    He said that the Ease of Doing Business had improved Nigeria’s performance in terms of trading across borders, with the introduction of Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC).

    The permanent secretary said that the guidelines had taken into account the directives of the Vice President and there was that inherent potency to facilitate trade without compromising the interest of the national economy.

    Isa-Dutse said that the objective of the workshop could be achieved if stakeholders were properly informed about procedures, rules and regulations, as well as modalities for their implementation and enforcement.

    Dr Jumoke Oduwole, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Industry, Trade & Investment, urged the private sector to cooperate with the Federal Government in the reform initiatives.

    “We ask that stakeholders should refrain from circumventing policies, as we strive to implement initiatives and reforms needed to scale up the efficiency and transparency of the public sector, ’’ Oduwole said.

    “We invite you all to give us your candid feedback on how our reforms are working in practice, as we collectively strive to make Nigeria an easier place in which to do business,’’ she said.

    Oduwole was represented by Mr Jude Oboh, Reform Leader at the Enabling Business Environment secretariat.

    Mr Tony Ayalogu, a Deputy Controller of Customs, stressed the importance of palletisation of cargo, saying that it protected goods from any form of damage.

    Ayalogu said that a standard palletised cargo could carry a maximum cargo of 100 kg.

    He urged Nigerians to ensure compliance with policy on palletisation of containerised cargo coming into the country, to make the Customs work seamlessly and to reduce the time of doing business.

    NAN

  • Smuggling: NCS intercepts 506 bags of foreign rice

    Smuggling: NCS intercepts 506 bags of foreign rice

    Nigeria Customs Service ( NCS ) said its command in Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara zone had intercepted 506 bags of foreign rice concealed in bags of beans smuggled into the country.

    The command’s Controller, Mr Nasir Ahmad, made this known to newsmen on Wednesday in Sokoto, and said that the seized consignment had payable duty value of N12.5 million.

    Ahmad said that the items were intercepted on Friday by officers of the command on patrol along Sokoto-Illela road.

    He said that the command had competent intelligent officers, investigating specialised activities.

    The controller explained that smugglers deployed different tactics in perpetrating their illegal businesses and reassured the public of the command’s readiness to confront smuggling and enforce government regulations.

    He called on people residing in border communities to assist Customs authorities with useful information to combat smuggling of goods into the country.

    “The present case is different as smugglers packaged two bags of rice in bigger beans bag disguising that they were conveying beans in the truck,” Ahmad said.

    According to him, smugglers are using various structures, including residential buildings, to store smuggled items in peace-meal before uploading to a truck.

    Ahmad said smuggling was crippling the nation’s economy as it deprived it of revenue, crippled industrial growth, endangered population and employment.

    He commended Comptroller-General and officers of the Service for supporting anti-smuggling and revenue generation drive of the present administration.

  • Customs deactivate 160 over fraudulent bidding

    Customs deactivate 160 over fraudulent bidding

    The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) yesterday said at the end of its fifth round of the ongoing e-auction bidding, it deactivated 160 Tax Identification Numbers (TINs) of fraudulent bidders.

    Speaking on the phone, the Public Relations Officer, Mr. Joseph Attah, said the fifth round was smooth “because of the measures that we put into effect,” adding that it was yielding results.

    “We have deactivated over 160 TINs due to bogus and unrealistic bidding. Those measures of reprogramming the system we had seen a better bidding process at the end of the fifth bidding,” he said.

    According to him, at the end of the fifth round, the total amount generated from the e-auction was in excess of N52million.  While 353 winners have emerged from the exercise, he said the sxth round commenced on Monday.

    He said: “The fifth round produced 99 winners. So, when you add it up at the end of that fifth round, we had 353 winners. And we have generated over N52million.”

    He said 19 banks are now participating in the ongoing auction and that the previous challenges that were associated with the process at the beginning have now given way owing to the different measures that the NCS took to address them.

    The NCS Comptroller-General, Hameed Ali (rtd) had this year introduced the e-auction bidding process to contain the corruption and lack of transparency that characterised the previous analogue bidding system.

    Ali said:”In the past, stakeholders had accused the service of Nepotism, short changing the government of revenue through arbitrary auction fees to be paid by allottees and sundry corruption allegation against the service.”

  • AGF directs NCS to comply with SC judgment

    The Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, has asked the Comptroller General (CG) of the Nigeria Customs Service, Hamid Ali, to comply with the judgment of the Supreme Court that ordered theservice to re-instate Comptroller Abdullahi Bello Gusau back to the service.

    The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN ), Justice Walter Onnoghen had in April 2017 ordered the Customs to re-instate Gusau, who was wroungfully sacked after the court judgement which was unanimous.

    The same court order was 34 months ago handed down (in July 2014) by three justices of the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division that the NCS failed to comply with before the apex court affirmed the judgment of the lower court that reinstated Comptroller Abdullahi Bello Gusau into the Service.
    Unhappy with the manner in which he was sacked, Gusau approached the high court but he lost. Dissatisfied with the judgment, he appealed to the court of Appeal which ordered his reinstatement July 2014 which was affirmed by the apex court April, 2017.
    The appellate courts ordered the NCS to allow Gusau to resume back to work and maintain his position as Comptroller of NCS, to be paid all benefits and emoluments and also to enjoy his lawful promotions.
    Comptroller Abdullahi Bello Gusau was January 1, 2000 promoted to the rank of Comptroller NCS, he remained on same rank before he was unlawfully sacked December 21, 2009 when he was purportedly retired from the services of the NCS.His mates then are now wearing the rank of Deputy Comptroller Generals (DCGs) while others have since retired as DCGs two years ago.
    Apart from the CJN, other Justices of the Supreme Court that sat on the panel were Musa Dattijo Muhammad, Kudirat Motonmori Olatokunbo Kekere-Ekun, Ejembi Eko, who delivered the lead judgment and Sidi Dauda Bage.
    Gusau was sacked December 21, 2009, exactly four days after he uncovered over N1.3 billion fraud via online audit through the Single Good Declaration (SGD) when he was Comptroller Post Clearance Audit ( PCA ) NCS HQ. The fraud was uncovered in only 20 SGD while hundreds of SGD were generated daily. He wrote a report on the fraud December 17th and was fired 4 days later on December 21, 2009.

  • Customs deactivate 160 TINs over fraudulent bidding

    Customs deactivate 160 TINs over fraudulent bidding

    The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) on Tuesday told The Nation that last week, at the end of its 5th round of the ongoing e-auction bidding, it deactivated 160 Tax Identification Numbers (TINs) of fraudulent bidders.

    Speaking with our Abuja correspondent on phone, the Public Relations Officer, Mr. Joseph Attah, noted that “the 5th round was smooth because of the measures that we put into effect, They have started yielding results.

    “We have deactivated over 160 TINs due to bogus and unrealistic bidding. Those measures of reprogramming the system we had seen a better bidding process at the end of the 5th bidding.”
    He said that 353 winners have emerged from the exercise.

    According to him, at the end of the 5th round, the total amount generated from the e-auction was in excess of N52million. He added that the 6th round commenced this week Monday.

    The spokesman said that “The 5th round produced 99 winners. So, when you add it up at the end of that 5th round we had 353 winners. And we have generated over N52million. And you know of course, the 6th round now has started on Monday.”

    He said that 19 banks are now participating in the ongoing auction and that the previous challenges that were associated with the process at the beginning have now given way owing to the different measures that the NCS took to address them.

    It will be recalled that the Nigeria Customs Service Comptroller-General, Hameed Ali (rtd) had this year introduced the e-auction bidding process to contain the corruption and lack of transparency that characterized the previous analogue bidding system.

    The Controller-General said:“In the past, stakeholders had accused the service of Nepotism, short changing the government of revenue through arbitrary auction fees to be paid by allottees and sundry corruption allegation against the service”.

    Two weeks after the launch of the process, for Jaiz Bank Plc, all the other Deposit Money Banks (DMB) refused to participate in the exercise giving room to the conjecture that the e-auction was skewed to favour Muslims and northerners.

    On July 18, Ali met with 17 Chief Executive Officers of banks in his office at Abuja, accusing them of sabotaging the e-auction process.

    The bankers, however, blamed their non-participation on technical hitches and promised to hook on to the system as soon as they overcame their hurdles.

  • Customs to auction seized goods July 1

    Customs to auction seized goods July 1

    The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) will sell seized goods from Saturday when its auction online portal is opened.

    Its Public Relations Officer (PRO), Mr Joseph Attah, said the goods would be sold to the highest bidders.

    Attah, a Deputy Comptroller of Customs, also said the NCS has  embarked on campaigns on the trade facilitation programme and related issues to key into the Ease of Doing Business.

    NCS’s PR Unit has unveiled posters and flyers, urging importers and agents to make genuine declarations of their goods to boost quick cargo clearance from the seaports, airports and border stations.

    Given the approval by its  Controller-General, Col. Hameed Alli (rtd) for the Customs to start e-auction of seized and prohibited goods, the Service has released a video sensitising the public on the plan.

    Besides pasting posters at strategic points in its commands, the Service urged the business community, particularly importers, to avoid prohibited items’ import. It also urged clearing agents on the need to tell importers to pay appropriate Customs  duty.

    He said the Service was keen on improving transparency with stakeholders.

    Attah added that if there was improved compliance among importers and clearing agents, cargo clearance would be faster.

    ‘’Our campaigns are targeted at a broad audience base because the more we dominate the various conventional and new media outlets with the true information for public consumption, the more difficult it becomes for unsuspecting members of the public to be misled or scammed.

    “We had come out with a video that was shown on major television stations) on our weekly Customs Duty Programme.

    “This is one sure way of fighting ignorance, which we all know is not an excuse for anyone caught on the wrong side of the law.

    “My Controller-General is committed to transparency and lawful ways of transacting government business and utmost integrity in relationship with our fellow government agencies and  private sector stakeholders,” Attah said.

  • Nigeria Customs Servcice

    Nigeria Customs Servcice

    Customs generally play a pivotal role in the economic life of any country. There is hardly any sector of the economy that is not directly or indirectly affected by the activities of Customs. The functions of the Nigeria Customs Service include, but not limited to the following:

    • Collection of Revenue (Import /Excise Duties & other Taxes /Levies) and accounting for same;
    • Anti-Smuggling activities;
    • Security functions;
    • Generating statistics for planning and Budgetary purposes;
    • Monitoring Foreign Exchange utilisation etc;
    • Engaging in Research, Planning and Enforcement of Fiscal Policies of Government;
    • Manifest processing;
    • Licensing and registration of Customs Agents;
    • Registration and designation of collecting banks; and
    • Working in collaboration with other government agencies in all approved ports and border station.

    MISSION & VISION

    At its coming into being in 1891, Nigeria Customs Service was saddled with the responsibilities of revenue collection, accounting for same and anti-smuggling activities. Today trade facilitation has become a fundamental role, progressively seen by the government as an important element of economic policy, with Customs having a unique position within the hub of the international supply chain of goods and services. Consequently, one of the challenges to Nigeria Customs Service is the proactive management of the seeming contradictory role of ensuring improvements in speedy delivery of services, while maintaining systematic and effective intervention controls, necessary to meet the demands of complex and growing international trade, characterized in recent times by economic crime, money laundering, menace of terrorism, threatening weapons of mass destruction, violation of intellectual property rights, and dumping of toxic and hazardous substances. It is apparent, therefore, that Nigeria Customs Service that has for long been a steward of the nation’s trade and border management is not only under pressure like never before but now has an enlarged role to perform at the highest levels, to facilitate legitimate trade in a global environment harbouring a litany of threats. Nigeria Customs Service has the mission to provide services in ways that maximise efficiency and promote trade competitiveness wherein declarations are promptly processed.

    Our Mission

    • Nigeria Customs Service is a reference and model administration with excellence in providing effective and efficient service to accomplish all dimensions of its mission.
    • That the Service is a modern, compact and dynamic Service that influences policy and contributes to Nigeria development.
    • That the Service is recognised as being in the vanguard of Customs best practices and international standards.

    Current Situation

    The Nigeria Customs Service statutory functions can be broadly classified into two main categories namely, core and other functions:

    Core Functions

    1. The collection of Revenue i.e. Import and Excise Duties and Accounting for same.
    2. Prevention and suppression of smuggling.

    Other Functions

    Implementation of Government Fiscal Measures

    1. Generation of statistical data for planning purpose
    2. Trade Facilitation
    3. Implementation of bilateral and multilateral agreements entered into by government
    4. Collection of levies and charges
    5. Collaborative functions with government Agencies including CBN, Police, NDLEA, SON, NAFDAC, FIRS, etc.
      The Service also supports the combating of:

      1. Illegal commercial activities and trade in illicit goods, e.g. import of fake and sub-standard goods
      2. Infraction on Intellectual Property Rights
      3. Illegal international trade in endangered species
      4. Illegal trade in arms and ammunition
      5. Money laundering
      6. Traffic of illicit drugs
      7. Illegal trade in cultural Artefacts.
      8. Importation of pornographic materials
      9. Importation of toxic and hazardous substances.

    Areas Of Strength

    The NCS today has a workforce with professional service culture exemplified by the followings:

    1. Corps of trained Customs professionals
    2. Mission and Vision statements
    3. Application of Risk Management System
    4. Electronic declarations and payment
    5. Access to information portal and single electronic point (NCS) Website
    6. Real-time account and actual revenue collected
    7. Adherence and strict implementation of three Customs procedures(classification, valuation and origin)essential to revenue collection.
    8. Implementation of Agreement on Customs Valuation. (ACV)
    9. Collaboration with World Customs Organization, Business and stakeholders.
    10. Exchange of information and intelligence.
    11. International best practices.

    Areas Requiring Immediate Government Intervention

    1. Effective take-over of all Customs import and export clearance functions.
    2. Legislative reform to provide a basis for the application of modern Customs Procedures.
    3. Improved capacity building completion of the construction of Customs Staff College.
    4. Streamlining of the procedure with other Government Agencies.
    5. Review of current penalty regime lacking effective deterrents against violations of Customs Laws.
    6. Better funding for infrastructures as applied to modern procedure.
    7. Simplification and harmonization of Customs procedures.
    8. Reduction of items on the prohibition list.
    9. Just-in-time delivery of goods and services by removal of non-tariff barriers.
    10. Promotion of transparent and predictable business environment.

    Future Plans

    1. Effective risk management.
    2. Full implementation of modern Customs procedures.
    3. Strengthening of Post Clearance controls and re-engineering of processes.
    4. Effective use of advance information system through electronic data interchange (EDI). eg. e-manifest and Alerts.
    5. Elimination of archaic Customs procedures inconsistent with developments in transportation technology and business practices
    6. Seamless real time transactions, paperless flows and connectivity with other stakeholders.
    7. Development of a single window for harmonizing and standardizing international trade information.
    8. Increased awareness/capacity building of stakeholders.
    9. More cost efficient and predictable border processing of goods and people.
    10. Adoption of i-border (intelligent border) solutions.
    11. Use of biometrics and improved baggage management at Airports.
    12. Hone strategic direction and use of capacity building measures to minimize the operational gaps between the Service and stakeholders
    13. Developing the capacity to conduct compliance and audits at trader premises.
    14. Requirement of financial guarantees from all Authorized Economic Operators.
    15. Building a Service that has integrity and good image.

  • How to stop $2.8b yearly loss in ICT sector, by NCS

    The Nigerian Computer Society (NCS) has urged the Federal Government to encourage the development of standard software in the country through funding to the education sector.

    According to industry sources, Nigeria loses about $2.8 billion yearly to the importation of information communications technology (ICT) hardware and software. These losses are in form of capital flight out of the country.

    NCS President, Prof Adesola Aderounmu, said industry operators do not patronise indigenous software developers because their products are usually substandard.

    He said with the setting up of a software testing facility in Lagos by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), it is hoped that well written standardised software will be made available locally to conserve scare foreign exchange.

    Speaking on the sideline of media presentation of the communique of the 26th National Conference and 49th Annual General Meeting of the NCS held at the NAF Conference Centre, Abuja, Prof Aderounmu lamented the lack-lustre attitude of student when it came to software writing. According to him, students are no longer interested in learning coding and software writing, adding that they are now interested in cutting corners to make quick money.

    He said NCS has been unrelenting in promoting the growth of computer education, adding that facilities are in Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, and the University of Ibadan.

    According to him, the NCS is now working with the ivory tower, developing a template to develop the requisite software needed to drive Nigeria’s economy to the next level.

    Another major challenge he identified was funding. He said funding is at the heart of the project, arguing that if standard software is developed in the country, it could also be exported.

    According to Wikipedia, the online knowledge platform, India has the one of fastest growing service sectors in the world with annual growth in the services, and software industry valued at over $167.0 billion of service exports in 2013-14.

     

  • How to stop $2.8b yearly loss in ICT sector, by NCS

    The Nigerian Computer Society (NCS) has urged the Federal Government to encourage the development of standard software in the country through funding to the education sector.

    According to industry sources, Nigeria loses about $2.8 billion yearly to the importation of information communications technology (ICT) hardware and software. These losses are in form of capital flight out of the country.

    NCS President, Prof Adesola Aderounmu, said industry operators do not patronise indigenous software developers because their products are usually substandard.

    He said with the setting up of a software testing facility in Lagos by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), it is hoped that well written standardised software will be made available locally to conserve scare foreign exchange.

    Speaking on the sideline of media presentation of the communique of the 26th National Conference and 49th Annual General Meeting of the NCS held at the NAF Conference Centre, Abuja, Prof Aderounmu lamented the lack-lustre attitude of student when it came to software writing. According to him, students are no longer interested in learning coding and software writing, adding that they are now interested in cutting corners to make quick money.

    He said NCS has been unrelenting in promoting the growth of computer education, adding that facilities are in Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, and the University of Ibadan.

    According to him, the NCS is now working with the ivory tower, developing a template to develop the requisite software needed to drive Nigeria’s economy to the next level.

    Another major challenge he identified was funding. He said funding is at the heart of the project, arguing that if standard software is developed in the country, it could also be exported.

    According to Wikipedia, the online knowledge platform, India has the one of fastest growing service sectors in the world with annual growth in the services, and software industry valued at over $167.0 billion of service exports in 2013-14.

     

  • 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.”