The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Nigeria Customs Service (NCS)

  • Customs, Armed Forces to conduct joint border security operation

    THE Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) on Tuesday announced that it will work with other Armed Forces, intelligence and security agencies to secure the nation’s borders.

    The joint patrol is part of measures to secure Nigeria’s land and maritime borders.

    Security and intelligence agencies also involved in the joint surveillance are: the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN), the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and other security and intelligence agencies.

    The joint border security operation is code-named Ex-Swift Response.

    It is being coordinated by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and will take place in four geopolitical zones, namely, Southsouth, Southwest, Northcentral and Northwest.

    Read Also: Customs arrests notorious rice smuggler

    NCS spokesman Joseph Attah broke the news in a statement yesterday in Abuja, the nation’s capital.

    The statement said the joint operation will promote interagency cooperation and increase preparedness to address trans-border security challenges, such as terrorism, armed banditry, smuggling, proliferation of small arms and light weapons, among others.

    Attah said the operation will also involve the movement of personnel, vehicles and equipment within the affected parts of the country.

    The statement added: “Therefore, we call on members of the public not to panic, and should continue to engage in their normal duties. The overall objective is to ensure a peaceful and secured country in the interest of our national security.”

     

  • Association seeks review of customs’ operations

    THE Africa Association of Professional Freight Forwarders and Logistics of Nigeria (APFFLON) has called on the Comptroller-General (CG) of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Col. Hameed Ali, to do a system appraisal within and without the customs operations.

    The call was contained in an open letter to Col. Ali, signed by the National President, Frank Ogunojemite.

    APFFLON said it was reaching out to NCS because of a mix-up in the system which is driven by parochialism and sycophancy, which hampers effective administrative correspondences and information flow.

    Making reference to the 2005 Presidential Committee on Customs operations report, which tried to correct some of the observed ills in customs operation, the association said unfolding events in the customs ports is gradually going back to pre-Nigeria Customs ports and border operations 2005.

    Read Also: Customs, NAFDAC destroy N14.7b tramadol

    The letter reads: “The code of ethics of the NCS specifically prohibits officers and men of the service from engaging in of clearing or forwarding of imported goods.

    “But contrary to that code of ethics, many of them flout this order and other regulations by using fronts and other such arrangements to do so.”

    Among other anomalies pointed out by APFFLON are insider trading and preferential treatment, controls and racketeering, non-compliance with rules of engagement, insecurity and safety etc.

    As a remedy, the association suggested, among others, that the use of camp boys at the operational base should be discouraged, while also advising customs to embrace an open door policy in all ramifications, and empower Zonal Coordinators and Area Comptrollers by assigning greater responsibilities to them.

    The agency should also discourage insider training to achieve licensing regulations and advancement.

    “If there must be an urgent need for task force to stem or stabilise operational misgivings, it should be structured as an ad hoc interventionist, or corrective measures that will act within a short time then disbanded afterwards”.

  • Customs intercepts N2.8m Tramadol-laden ambulance

    The Apapa Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has said it has intercepted an ambulance loaded with 10 cartons of 225mg Tramadol drugs at the Apapa Port, Lagos.

    The ambulance driver and a dockworker were arrested with the vehicle while trying to smuggle the item.

    The Tramadol tablets valued at N2.8 million were concealed inside the ambulance, which belongs to Medbury Medical Services.

    The two suspects, Michael Ajibade (driver) and Olatunde Emmanuel (dockworker), were said to have been arrested by Customs officers at 11pm last Friday on their way out of the port in the siren-blaring ambulance.

    Apapa Customs Area Controller Muhammed Abba-Kura, who briefed reporters yesterday, said the ambulance was usually stationed at the port complex for medical emergencies, adding that it belonged to Medbury Medical Services, an industrial medical services provider.

    He said the officers were on routine surveillance when they made the arrest.

    “Investigation shows that the Tramadol drugs were pilfered from an undeclared container. Physical examination reveals that 211 cartons of the drugs were missing from the container. The Duty Paid Value (DPV) of the stolen drugs stands at N59.4 million,” Abba-Kura said.

    He said findings further revealed that the container, allegedly shipped from India by Pacific International Limited (PIL) as general merchandise, was neither declared nor positioned for examination, adding that on examination, it was found that its original seal had been broken.

    Read Also: I was under tramadol influence, says suspected killer

    Disclosing that preliminary investigations had begun, Abba-Kura said the command is working hard to ascertain the level of involvement of others that may be involved in the act, “in order to get to the root of this unfortunate incident, before charging them to court.”

    The ambulance driver denied knowledge of the items.

    He said his yet-to-be-identified principal(s) promised him N2,000 to take the drugs across the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) gate.

    The dockworker, who escorted the ambulance, said he was promised N50,000.

     

  • Seme Customs seizes 864 kegs of acid, others

    The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Seme Border Area Command, has intercepted women hair alongside with table waters, expired ginger drinks and parboiled rice with Duty Paid Value (DPV) of over N10 million.

    Its Customs Area Controller (CAC), Comptroller Mohammed Garba, who made this disclosure yesterday, said the banned substances were smuggled into the country along side durable goods.

    According to him, the Command intercepted table waters and ginger drinks written in Chinese language which are banned items, including hair attachment used to  conceal the bottled water which is not allowed through the border.

    He explained that using dutable goods to conceal prohibited goods leads to automatic forfeiture of both goods.

    Garba said National Drug Law Enforcement Agencies (NAFDAC) was in a better position to explain if the intercepted table water was actually  drinkable water or not.

    “The Seme Command intercepted 7,524 foreign table water valued at N1.7 million, 83 cartons of Amira/Makoko soap, with DPV N1.8million, 1,718 bags of 50kg foreign parboiled rice,  26 bales of used clothes,  with DPV N918,000,  14 cartons of Nitro faminne soap with DPV N169, 000.

    Read Also: Seme Customs generates N781m

    “The intercepted items also include 13 bags of expired rice with DPV N54, 000, eight sacks of used shoes with DPV N98, 000; 65 peices of six yards textile  with DPV N63, 000;, 11 cartons of insecticide with DPV N13,000.

    “Also among the siezures are 864 of 30 litters cans of sulphuric  acid with DPV N3.5 million,  two sacks of rubber slippers with DPV N38, 000 and two cartons OT lemon cream with DPV of N77, 000, ” Garba said.

    He said the command also intercepted 16 bags of rice at Gbaji axis on yesterday, with DPV of N8,000 adding that the command generated a sum of N4,185 billion in the first half of 2019.

    He said the command had been surpassing it’s monthly  revenue target in the last three months adding that the amount generated represented about 64 per cent of its annual target.

     

     

  • ‘How Nigeria, Benin Customs can succeed’

    For the newly signed connectivity programme between Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and its Republic of Benin counterpart to work effectively and be beneficial to all stakeholders, there is a need for all stakeholders in the import-export trade to make sincere declarations on their consignment.

    This was the submission of the Comptroller General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ali (rtd) at the launch of the joint customs connectivity program between Nigeria and Benin Republic in Seme border.

    He said the new system will prevent abuse and other forms of unlawful acts associated with border businesses.

    He said: “This will not only facilitate trade but will also curb transborder crimes. We had a challenge with language but today we have scaled that hurdle.

    “Benin Republic and Nigeria are almost like one state divided by imaginary border line.This is a unique development for both countries. This system will weed out all false declarations. If you want your imports and exports to be treated fast, you must make honest declarations. This will bring an end to illicit trafficking.”

  • Nigeria, Benin customs begin inter-connectivity sensitisation

    The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and its Benin Republic counterpart yesterday began steps to achieve inter connectivity of importers declarations with a sensitisation meeting with stakeholders in Seme Border.

    Under the new system, declarations made for imports from either of the two countries to the other will be electronically shared and importers do not need to declare a second time in transit.

    Controller General of Nigeria Customs, Col. Hameed Ali and Director-General of Benin Republic Customs, Sacca Boco Innousa Charles, assured stakeholders that the system will be protected from hacking and any form of disruption.

    Ali allayed fears of likelihood of reneging by Benin Republic as the case in the past saying officers on the project are committed to its success.

    Read Also: Marine Customs hands over seized drugs to NDLEA

    Represented by Assistant Comptroller General in charge of ICT, Benjamin Aber and his Beninoise counterpart, Ali assured importers and exporters that the system will be trader friendly, increase revenue, prevent smuggling and promote trade.

    Also speaking at the meeting , Charles said the initiative is a dream come true.

    According to him, moves for achieving the initiative began about 15 years ago when leaders of both countries initiated it.

    He said: “The new mechanism is a fall out of previous meetings between Nigerian president and our president

    “Our presidents held a meeting 15years ago in Badagry. I was there and today the efforts of both countries is about yielding results.

    “I was a member of the economic watch committee. I never knew I will be here to be part of those seeing it come real.

    “This forum is about sharing and knowing responsibilities, to improve our incomes as various economies.

    “This is a model initiative that will draw attention to Krake/Seme. It will be an example for other customs administrations.

    “We should continue as partners in building a better economies for our two countries.

    “I always feel at home whenever I come to Nigeria for ECOWAS meetings. I urge you all (Nigerians) to feel at home in our country.”

    The project is expected to take off before end of the month when it will be formally launched.

     

  • Nigeria, Benin Customs begin sensitisation on connectivity

    Nigeria Customs Service and the Customs administration of neighbouring Republic of Benin have finalised the technical aspects of connectivity and are set to sensitise stakeholders tomorrow on the business process and the inherent benefits in the project. Connectivity between both customs administrations is expected to achieve ease of doing business, promote trade, prevent revenue losses and curb smuggling across their common borders.

    The new initiative, said to be a step further in the ECOWAS Alisa project is expected to be launched towards the end of this month. The spokesman for Nigeria Customs, Joseph Attah, described the move as one that will impact greatly and positively on the fortunes of trans border trade actors in both countries.

    Attah,a Deputy Comptroller of Customs, said “Automation of manifest of imported goods into both countries,under the connectivity regime, will be captured for customs declaration in both countries.

    “What we mean is that,whatever declaration you make in either country will be known by customs administration of the other Country. It will be impossible to now make a declaration at one end and later change or adjust earlier made declaration in the other country to avoid arrest or payment of appropriate taxes.

    “This addresses the possible incidents of duty evasion through insincere declarations or attempt to hide and smuggle a prohibited item into the Country. Whatever you are declaring on the other side is electronically transmitted to this side and vise versa and will form the basses for you assessment.

    Read Also: NCS urges FG to pay for Remita

    It becomes impossible to change declaration concerning the consignment. By this,we shall be preventing smuggling electronically.

    “This does not affect the extant procedures peculiar to both countries on prohibition list, contraband and country by country rules on processing of certain items for importation. Laws of both countries applies to items so declared ” Attah said.

    He added that in addition to single declarations being used by customs administration of broth counties in a transparent platform , the new system will be time saving and no doubt facilitate trade and reduce cost of doing business while curbing possible corrupt tendencies.

    Revenue collection, would be more accurate while security will be enhanced with the deployment of non intrusive equipment such as scanners and others that will detect items that could compromise security, fuel insurgency or other criminal acts in both Countries.

    He also said the existing trade relationship between both countries would be strengthened by the new initiative as it will forge a more enduring partnership aimed at promoting legitimate trade and discouraging trans border ilgalities.

    Governments of both countries, according to Attah, would be able to access more accurate and reliable trade data or statistics for national planning and other economic resource materials.

    Levels of compliance to trade and fiscal policies by members of the trading community is expected to increase with the new system whose backbone is sustained by an internationally recognised ICT for trade solution provider,Webb Fontaine.

    Webb Fontaine has a record of helping to deploy ICT for improved risk management, preventing revenue losses and promoting trade in line with policies of governments it interfaces with. Its this age long experiences that forms the backbone of this Customs to Customs connectivity in Seme/Krake border.

  • Customs’ Q1 revenue collection hits N312.6b

    The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has collected  N312,603,256,366.88 in the first quarter (Q1) of this year, it was learnt on Tuesday.

    According to a document obtained by The Nation from the Customs Headquarters, Abuja, the Service recorded N109,859905476.33 revenue collection in March, which was an increase of N24,909,011,808.96 over the N84,950,893,667.37 collected in the previous month. It represented 29.32 per cent rise in the period under revenue.

    The document noted that in March, the NCS collected N52908321928.00 from import duty, N12,630,225,488.33 from Excise Duty and N3,714,037,520.00 Customs External Tariff (CET).

    It also added that the Service recorded a collection of N243,561,760.00 fees, and Value Added Tax (VAT) of N19,345,600,719.00. The fund accruable to the Federation Account, according to the document, was N69,496,146,969.33, while N21,081,158,061.00 was not Federation Account.

    Read Also: Customs command generates N814.7m

    The collection was higher than the revenue of March last year that was N87.58 billion, an indication of N22.27billion rise over the record of the corresponding period last year.

    In February this year, the collection had dipped by N32,778,563,555.81, representing 27.8 per cent decrease in the period under review.

    The decline might not be unconnected with the shortness of the month and the work-free days as a result of the Presidential and National Assembly elections.

    A document titled: Revenue Collected 01/02/2019-28/02/2019, showed that five per cent of the VAT of the total collection was N16,499,687,718.00.

    A breakdown of the collection showed that the NCS collected N45,208,094,544.00 Import Duty, while Excise Duty was N1,319,955,637.00 and CET levy was N4,847,840,441.00.

    The document also noted that Fees were N40,370,843.00, Collections due for Federation Account was N51,987,461,561.37, B.VAT N16,499,687,718.00 while  N16,463,744,388.00 was non Federation Account revenue.

    In February last year, the NCS collected N79.26 billion, which indicated a corresponding increase of N5.64billion, representing an increase of 7.11 per cent.

    It also generated N94.3billion in April,  N100.5 billion in May, N98.4 billion in June, N94.9 billion in July and N140.4 billion in August.

     

  • Truck owners threaten shutdown over planned auction

    The Association of Maritime Truck Owners (AMATO)  has threatened to withdraw its services from the port over plans by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) to auction trucks seized for conveying contraband items.

    Its Chairman, Remi Ogungbemi, who spoke shortly after a meeting with the Service’s Zonal Coordinator in charge of Zone ‘A’, Assistant Comptroller-General (ACG) Kaycee Ekekezie, in Lagos, urged  the Nigerian Port Authority (NPA) and the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) to prevail on the Customs to stop the planned auction.

    Accusing importers and clearing agents of making false declaration in their documentation, Ogungbemi said he was surprised that Customs decided to re-introduce the auctioning of seized trucks despite that truckers were not privy to the content of the containers they carry on behalf of importers and agents.

    “I am surprised that instead of Customs just seizing the contraband goods and give us our trucks, they have started auctioning our trucks. They were doing this before about 20 years ago but later  stopped and issued us a circular that henceforth, they would be releasing our trucks to us. So we truckers are warming up for strike and we want the authorities to intervene, otherwise we will withdraw our services in protest against the illicit activities of importers, exporters and their agents who will not tell the Customs exactly what is inside the container and that form the reason why Customs is impounding and auctioning our trucks,” he said.

    Though he agreed that the law was clear that “any contraband seized should be seized together with the means of conveyance,” he argued that some of the containers were examined by Customs at the port before they were released, while truckers were not part of the examiners, neither were they privy to the document used in clearing the containers.

    He, however, said the Customs Zonal Coordinator had promised to table the matter before the Comptroller-General and convene a meeting between the truckers, clearing agents, importers and exporters.

  • Customs seize 1,942 bags of foreign rice, other goods in Katsina

    The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone B, has seized no fewer than 1,942 bags of foreign rice and other goods in Katsina State in two months.

    The Controller of the Unit, Comptroller Mustapha Sarkin-Kebbi, made this known on Monday during a news conference.

    He said that the unit also seized 350 jerry cans of vegetable oil, 400 cartons of spaghetti, 160 bags of foreign sugar and six fairly-used vehicles.

    According to him, the customs also seized 39 vehicles which the smugglers used in conveying the prohibited items into the country.

    He noted that the seized items have a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N107.2 million.

    The controller commended the Customs officers for their efforts, urging them to keep up the good efforts for the betterment of the country.

    “The Customs made about 74 seizures between February and March, 2019, in Katsina State alone.

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    “Two persons were arrested in connection with the smuggling activities and will be prosecuted.

    “We have more problem in Katsina than in other states, may be due to the mentality of people involved in that illegal business.

    ‘’Everyday our officers go out for duty, they will seize smuggled items.

    “Smugglers are becoming more sophisticated. If they see there is problem here, they will turn to another place but we are also equal to the task,’’ Sarkin-Kebbi said.

    He urged the relevant authorities to intensify efforts toward enlightening the border communities on the dangers associated with smuggling activities.

    “The smugglers need to be sensitized in order to change their minds from smuggling of illicit items into the country,’’ the controller said.

    NAN