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Tag: NCS

  • Ebola: Customs not taking chances, says Comptroller

    The Seme Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) is not leaving anything to chance in fight against the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD).

    The Area Controller, Comptroller Willy Egbudin, has said the Command would ensure adequate security at the border to prevent foreigners from bringing in the virus.

    Speaking with The Nation, he said the Command was mindful of the  health and security challenges in the country, adding that, it has beefed up security to ensure that there is no economic sabotage, or lapses that could lead to the spread of the virus through the border.

    Egbudin said he had instructed his officers to be extra vigilant, stressing that efforts were being intensified by border health officials to contain the disease.

    The command, he said, had sensitised the people of the area, adding: “There are no serious challenges in carrying out Customs duties as officers and men are effectively providing the services as constitutionally required to satisfy all the traders and importers around the border.”

    He said the Command was interfacing with other security agencies and stakeholders to maintain peace and security, stressing that there was no cause for alarm with the 24- hour security checks embarked upon by the Command

    On smuggling, he said efforts were being intensified to create more platforms for talks involving Customs, leaders of the border communities and the youth to reduce smuggling through intelligence gathering and information sharing.

    Some of the youth who have abandoned the illicit trade, he said, were acting as sources of information to arrest smugglers.

    Egbudin said his officers and other security agents were working together  to secure the country and promote the growth of the economy.

    He solicited more co-operation with security agents and stakeholders by the border communities in the fight against Ebola.

  • Customs loses over N25b to duty waivers

    The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) lost over N25.8 billion to waivers and exemption between January and May, The Nation has learnt.

    The Federal Government was said to have granted the waivers and exemptions to mining, construction, power, agriculture and health concerns.

    Sources said the Customs was unable to collect the revenue on the items on which there were  waivers, adding that it lost N55.96 billion, N55.34 billion and N59.42 billion to import waivers in 2011, 2012 and last year.

    But, an official of the Ministry of Finance, who asked not to be named, said the Federal Government granted the waivers because of the need to improve the agriculture/mining sectors and medical services, in addition to increasing power generation, promoting family planning, and raising the standard of education.

    A source said Indorama Eleme Fertiliser and Chemicals Limited got N10.5 billion waiver, it is the highest beneficiary.

    A breakdown of the amount, it was learnt, showed that N6.96 billion was waived for Indorama on machinery, equipment and spare parts; the balance was waived on fertiliser catalysts and chemical pile.

    Chevron Nigeria Limited is the second highest beneficiary with N4.87 billion waived on machinery, equipment and pipelines; followed by Galaxy Backbone, with N2.49 billion on Information and Communications Technology equipment.

    United Cement Company of Nigeria and NIPCO Plc also got waivers of N1.91 billion and N1.02 billion for the importation of machinery, equipment and spare parts.

    Other major beneficiaries are the Borno State Government, which got N984.79 million waiver for agricultural machinery; the Globe Motors for 290 units of motor vehicles used during the World Economic Forum; and Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors without borders), N568 million for medical supplies.

    Justifying the waivers, the official said they were incentives used to support the private sector because of some of the regulatory challenges in the domestic business environment.

    According to him, the sectors that benefited from waivers are hospitality, power, aviation, agricultural machinery, solid minerals equipment, gas-using equipment, steel and manufacturing.

    “There are also additional programmes, such as the Export Expansion Grant Scheme designed to promote non-oil exports. These sectors are seen as strategic areas, which can stimulate growth, support diversification of the Nigerian economy, and create jobs for Nigerians.

    “In the past, waivers were granted to individual businesses in an approach that resulted in rent-seeking behaviours and an uneven playing field for other businesses. It was precisely the need to stop such a discretionary approach that led to reforms by the Economic Management Team under the leadership of President Goodluck Jonathan.

    “A sector-wide waiver policy was introduced to provide specific incentives for some strategic, job-creating sectors. Under this regime, all businesses in a sector have access to the same incentives.

    “In addition, some waivers and exemptions make up for gaps in our economy; for example, waivers to bring in vehicles for sporting events and conferences,” the official said.

    When asked to speak on the implication of the waivers on the amounts that should go to the Federation Account and the seven per cent revenue that must accrue to Customs, he said: “We have to weigh the balance between putting money into the Federation Account, collecting Customs revenues and providing jobs for the army of the youth in the country by providing the necessary incentives to private sector operators to stimulate growth and development. The government felt it has responsibility to perform in terms of job creation and see to the local production of some of the goods we consume as nation.”

  • Knowledge vital to competitiveness, says NCS

    Knowledge vital to competitiveness, says NCS

    For Nigeria to remain competitive in the global economic space, knowledge, driven by muti-stakeholders collaboration, is required, the Nigeria Computer Society (NCS) has said.

    According to a communiqué at the end of its 25th Annual National Conference in  Enugu,   stakeholders and attendees agreed that ICT is an enabler for growth and national development, capable of being the highest employer.

    It was also agreed that competitive advantage in business has always been driven by knowledge adding that multiple stakeholders need to collaborate to build strong partnerships in the transformation of Nigeria from information society to knowledge-based economy.

    The experts also averred that a knowledge-based economy is predicated on the production and dissemination of ideas and that there is the urgent need to recognise knowledge as a resource that can be codified, registered and made tradeable.

    In view of this, it was agreed that there was the need for a well-concerted investment in knowledge production through ICT and to achieve this requires immediate domestication and localisation of Nigeria ICT policy through the various tiers of government and laterally across Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of the government.

  • 13 Customs officers in trouble over seized N600m vehicles

    13 Customs officers in trouble over seized N600m vehicles

    The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Operation  Unit (FOU) Zone ‘A’, Ikeja, Lagos has made a huge catch, seizing N600 million worth of exotic vehicles.

    It made the seizure following the bursting of a smuggling ring that specialises in importing vehicles through the seaports without paying duty, The Nation learnt.

    Sources said most of the vehicles, including new 2013 and 2014 models, passed through the Lagos ports without payment of the 35 per cent duty. They added that the importers and clearing agents declared the cargoes as used cars purportedly manufactured in 2006 and 2007 to deceive the Customs and short-change the Federal Government.

    The vehicles include eight 2014 custom-built Rolls Royce, 2013 Mercedes Benz 700, Lexus GX 460, Toyota Land Cruiser Prado TX.L, BKA bus, Toyota 4Runner, Toyota Highlander, Toyota Camry, Infinity QX56, Pajero Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) and other expensive brands.

    The market value of the Rolls Royce, security sources said, is about N50 million each and the importer was expected to pay N15 million duty on each vehicle. The importer, it was alleged, paid N1 million to get the vehicles out of the port.

    Some of the vehicles, sources said, had no Customs paper.

    More than 13 officers of the Customs responsible for the release of the vehicles, it was gathered, may be sacked after the probe ordered by Customs Comptroller-General Alhaji Dikko Abdullahi on the matter.

    Some of the vehicles, a source said, were released from the port at night to beat security checks.

    It was learnt that some of the importers used the new number plates on some of the vehicles to beat Customs’ checks on the road. But, unknown to them, Customs officials from the FOU Zone ‘A’ had been monitoring their movement in Lagos for days before swooping on them.

    Some officers of the zone, the source said, used the Customs camouflage, while others were deployed by the Acting Controller, Turaki Usman Adamu, in mufti to trace and track the smuggled vehicles.

    Sources revealed that the command made 336 seizures valued at N107 million in the first 25 days of Turaki’s assumption.

    Turaki confirmed that custom- built vehicles were intercepted by his officers and men, but refused to mention the number and the value. The Customs headquarters had been briefed, he said.

    The Customs chief, however, said following a tip-off, his Lagos Roving Patrol Team (LRPT) also intercepted seven trucks of smuggled textile materials from a warehouse around Oshodi, whose value was yet to be determined.

    “On Thursday, August 14, following a tip-off, the Lagos Roving Patrol Team, intercepted seven trucks of Jumbo bales of suspected textile materials from a warehouse around Oshodi.

    “The trucks have been deposited in the government warehouse for further investigation and to determine the value.

    “I am pleased to inform you that the Unit also recorded  a total of 336 different seizures of assorted offending goods valued at N107,513,308 with a duty of N42,937,110 and 19 suspects were arrested in connection with the seizure.

    “Between January and August 14, the total amount of revenue as a result of our intervention from ports and border stations stood at N89,337,981.00. It is good to add that between first and 14th of this month, we generated N28,128,140. The amount is higher than that one generated in August last year.

    “Therefore, I am advising smugglers in the Southwest to relocate or else they would face the full wrath of the law.

    “We have spread our dragnets to all the nooks and crannies of our areas of jurisdiction and will not stop at dealing with the menace,” Turaki said.

    Turaki, who said the unit was complementing the efforts of other Customs Commands in ensuring that there was total compliance with the fiscal policies of the Federal Government on trade, however, assured that genuine and compliant importers and their representatives of  support, stressing that the unit is committed to boosting legitimate trade in line with global best practice.

     

  • Ebola: Customs on red alert at borders

    Ebola: Customs on red alert at borders

    The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has placed its officers on red alert at the borders over the deadly Ebola Virus Disease (EVD).

    Some of the borders are in Seme and Idi-Iroko in Lagos State, Saki, (Oyo) and Jibia (Katsina).

    For instance, the Customs Area Controller (CAC), Seme Border, Comptroller Willy Egbudin and his health officers, it was gathered, have met with border protection agencies on how to prevent those  with the disease from entering the country as directed by Customs Comptroller-General (CCG) Alhaji Dikko Abdullahi.

    The CCG, sources said, gave the directive after the pan-African airline ASKY, suspended its flights into Liberia and Sierra Leone. The move also followed the death of one of its passengers from the virus after he landed in Nigeria from Liberia.

    Seme  Customs Public Relations Officer Mr Ernest Olottah said Customs officials were in touch with other agencies to ensure they work in concert to prevent border breach by carriers of EVD.

    The Customs, he said, took the proactive steps in the national interest, adding that the agency also took the step after the United Kingdom reported that a man from Nigeria via Paris was rushed to the hospital with Ebola-related symptoms.

    “Every Customs officer working at the Seme and other borders is on alert, and we have one of the best trained health officers for infectious disease system and they have been deployed to arrest the situation,’’ Olottah said.

    Ebola, he said, is a contagious disease, with 90 per cent mortality rate which deserves everybody’s attention and prevention because there is no treatment for the virus.

    He said: “It has flu-like symptoms and a runny nose, then it develops into a haemorrhagic disease which includes bleeding in the eyes, internal organs and skin hemorrhages.

    “Ebola is transferred between humans via bodily fluids. It could be as simple as wiping a tear off a person’s face or as intimate as the transfer of saliva or semen.”

    Olottah added: “Frighteningly, the virus can still be transferred once a person has died and that is the more reason Customs at border stations cannot go to sleep.

    “As far as we are aware, no Nigerian living in the country is infected by the disease.

    “The Area Controller does not want Ebola to get into an urban hub, such as Lagos because it would be pretty difficult to stop if we fail to act now.”

  • Data security vital to knowledge economy, says NCS

    Data security vital to knowledge economy, says NCS

    The President, Nigeria Computer Society (NCS), Prof David Adewumi has said Nigeria’s pursuit of a knowledge-based economy will not stand the test of time if steps are not taken to protect the data of people. He warned that cyber warfare could be more devastating than the physical war fare going on across the globe.

    Adewumi who spoke on the sideline at the computer professionals umbrella body’s 25th annual conference in Enugu, Enugu State over the weekend, said the trend globally is a paradigm shift to knowledge-based economy, adding that Nigeria can no longer wait while other countries take proactive steps to improve the living standards of their people. He urged private and public organisation to prioritise data protection.

    According to him, the current contribution of the information communication technology (ICT) sector to the nation’s gross domestic product (GDP) could be doubled if steps are taken by the government to put in place a knowledge-based economy driven by ICT.

    Other experts that spoke on the subject matter all stressed the need for data protection arguing that data has become the currency of a knowledge-based economy, driving innovation and boosting businesses at various levels, and must be protected at all cost, the conference insisted.

    Manager, Cyber Risk Services Unit, Deloitte Nigeria, Funmilola Odumuboni, in her presentation in one of the sessions, said although data drives knowledge-economies, but there are security issues around data that must be addressed.

    She said:”Nigeria is fast moving to knowledge based economy and there is need to address the security issues around activities on the knowledge-based economy.”

    She identified security issues threatening knowledge driven economy to include software piracy, identity theft, industrial espionage, platform interoperability, among others. To fix these issues, Odumuboni suggested effective intellectual management system, development of a robust security strategy, formulating piracy laws and cyber security laws, as well as creating awareness that must be led by government through seminars and workshops.

    She expressed worries that data hacking is daily becoming an issue global scene, adding that experts must come up with innovative ways to protect data in order to drive knowledge-based economy.

    Country Managing Director, Accenture Nigeria, Mr. Biyi Yusuf said there is need for Nigeria to leverage knowledge-based economy through ICT that would drive the country’s education sector. To achieve this, she said Nigeria should be able to deploy cost based technology.

    Represented by Mr. Adebayo Ibrahim from the firm, he lamented a situation where there are still outdated facilities in the universities, and called for update of university facilities and curriculum.

     

     

  • NCS seeks digital approach to national challenges

    The Nigeria Computer Society (NCS) has urged the Federal Government to seek digital solutions to the multi-faceted challenges confronting the nation.

    Its President, Prof David Adewumi, said it is improper to deploy analogue technology in the digital age to proffer solutions to the social, economic and security challenges facing the country.

    Adewumi, who spoke on the sideline of a press conference held to announce its 25th National Conference slated for Nike Lake Hotel, Enugu, said the simple ubiquitous deployment of close circuit television (CCTvs) across the country could just be the game cahnger.

    He said: “We need a digital approach to solving all our problems in this country. though security issues are not supposed to be discussed on the pages of newspapers, I think the simplest example that could be drawn is the deployment of CCTvs across the country.

    “If a criminal commits a crime, it will easy to track the criminal down wherever he might go. All that is needed is just to play the video and that will be all. This technology has worked in other countries of the world. There is no reason for it to fail in this country.”

    He said this year’s conference theme will be Building a knowldeg-based economy in Nigeria: The role of Information Technology, adding that it underscores the vital role of IT in driving development in any  economy.

    He said: “NCS has always being at the forefront of new innovative engagements and the adaptation of cutting-edge technological solutions. We are committed to facilitating the deployment of digital and internet based technologies to not only drive improvements but to change and redirect our energy on how Nigeria’s economy is defined, organised and delivered.

    “We build thought leadership through emphasis on relevance and significance in using IT to enable inclusive and sustainable development. We are committed as a professional advocacy group to advancing the interests of the IT industry and profession and the nation as a whole.”

  • Fed Govt rakes in N2.2b monthly from CIS

    The nod by President Goodluck Jonathan for the transfer of Destination Inspection (DI) scheme from scanning service providers to the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has started yielding positive results as the Customs generates over N2.2billion monthly into Federal Government’s coffers as one per cent of the Comprehensive Import Supervision (CIS) scheme.

    The amount would have accrued to destination inspection service providers if they were still handling the scheme.

    Speaking at a training  for maritime journalists in Lagos, Customs Deputy Controller Olugboyega Peters said the N2.2 billion revenue was part of the many gains of Pre-Arrival Assessment Report (PAAR) introduced by Customs on January 1, this year.

    He, however, said contrary to speculations that the money would be kept in Customs’purse, this was not so.

    “We are yet to receive part of the money, but I am sure it will be given. Over N2.2 billion is being saved monthly by Customs as money that could have gone into the coffers of the service providers,” he said.

    He said the service is fully automated and that the initial hiccups it encountered in the transmission of PAAR from its ruling centre in Abuja to the customers’banks have all been surmounted and resolved.

    According to him, Customs clearing document is being managed by a network provider, Webfontain.

    Peters said genuine importers can obtain PAAR in six hours, adding that Customs has cleared the 99,000 backlog of PAARs it inherited from the former service providers.

    West Blue network provider, he said, handles Customs training schools and help in developing soft ware for its young officers.

  • Customs begins collection of 70% tariff on imported vehicles today

    The collection of the 70 per cent tariff on imported vehicles by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) will start today,  The Nation has learnt.

    A Customs’ source said the Service would collect the new tariff in compliance with the new fiscal policy on imported vehicles as directed by the Federal Government.

    Importers and car dealers who hitherto paid 35 per cent duty and two per cent levy on new cars, will as from today,  pay 35 per cent duty and another 35 per cent levy, making  70 per cent.

    The official said last year, the Federal Government, changed its policy on imported cars, which increased the duty on imported cars from 20 per cent to 70 per cent to encourage the local production of vehicles.

    Accordingly, Customs has directed all Deputy Comptroller-Generals, Assistant Comptroller-Generals, Zonal Coordinators, Area Controllers and unit heads to implement the policy.

    The Customs Public Relations Officer, Tin-Can Island Command, Chris Osunkwo, told The Nation that the NCS circular dated  February 28 to all Customs commands across the country is valid since there is no other circular directing otherwise.

    He said importers must pay the duty and the levy.

    Some vehicles imported into the country about two months ago have been abandoned at the ports over the new duty.

    The affected vehicles, Customs sources said, were abandoned by their importers because of their inability to pay the tariff.

    Importers and other stakeholders, the source said, are concerned over the 70 per cent tariff because of looming congestion, urging the government to address the problem.

    An official of one of the terminals in Lagos, who craved anonymity, said there were indications that over 800 vehicles have been abandoned inside their terminal.

    A freight forwarder and member, National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), Mr Okey Nerus, said the congestion has already affected the traffic of vessels into the country.

    According to him, cargoes were abandoned at the port because importers were waiting for the government to review the policy, but the more they waited the more demurrage the cargoes incurred.

    “Some of the cargoes in the port are consignments that came on May 1st to mid-June, importers felt the policy will not commence until July, so they rushed to make imports, and when the 35 per cent duty was introduced, they decided to wait and see if government will review it,” Nerus said.

  • Customs seizes 107 bags of Indian hemp

    •Destroys N15m frozen products 

    The Oyo/Osun Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) yesterday seized a white Ford Chevrolet bus loaded with 107 bags (963 kilogrammes) of Indian hemp (cannabis sativa).

    Addressing newsmen at the command headquarters in Ibadan, Oyo State capital, the Customs Area Controller, Mr Oteri Richard, said the bus was intercepted around 4.30am at Igboora in Ibarapa Central Local Government Area of the state.

    He said the command‘s Crack Team led by Alajogun J.A, a Deputy Superintendent of Customs (DSC), arrested the bus marked, XW 193 GGE.

    He said nobody was arrested as the culprits abandoned the bus when they saw men of the command, but assured that through the vehicle documents found in the bus, further investigation would be made to arrest those involved.

    Oteri, who handed the substance to the state Commander, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Mrs Omobolade Faboyede, called for synergy among security agencies in combating insecurity in the country.

    Also, the command seized about 2,000 cartoons of imported poultry products worth about N15million along the Agbe-Olodo axis of Osun State.

    The seizure, according to Oteri, was effected through  the renewed commitment to bringing down to the barest minimum, the incidence of smuggling within the command.

    He disclosed that on June 6,  an anti-smuggling team of the command led by Efetobor R.O, intercepted a black Mazda 3 Volkswagon Passat  and another bus loaded with 2,000 cartons of frozen poultry product.

    Oteri explained that the arrest was made possible with the professional expertise of his men.

    Destroying the seized poultry products in the presence of newsmen at the Arapaja dump site in the Oluyole area of Ibadan, Oteri warned those importing contraband products to dump the trade.

    He warned that the command is battle-ready to spoil “business” for them.