The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Nigeria Customs Service (NCS)

  • Navy seeks effective prosecution of maritime offenders

    How to effectively prosecute arrested pirates and other maritime offenders was a major issue raised during the 2019 multinational sea exercise OBANGAME Express in the Gulf of Guinea (GoG), The Nation learnt yesterday.

    It was gathered that the Nigerian Navy (NN) was worried at the frequent release on bail or outright dismissal of charges against suspects by the court, a situation that has been blamed on the absence of genuine collaboration and understanding.

    The feeling of suspension and distrust among the agencies, according to the Officer in Tactical Command (OTC) Commodore Dickson Olisemenogor was as a result of the quest to outsmart each other.

    Olisemenogor who spoke to journalists on board Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) CENTENARY during the exercise said there was need for a wholistic approach to issues relating to crime in the maritime sector.

    Emphasising the need for collaboration among stakeholders, he said the country would benefit more in terms of revenue generation should all concerned work towards common good.

    Adjuging the five-day sea exercise as largely successful, Olisemenogor said it would go a long way if the various agencies could continue the team spirit exhibited during the simulations.

    He said the exercise afforded participants the opportunity to test their abilities to synegise as well as assimilate operations that lead to arrest, investigate, collation of exhibits and above all sharing of information that could aid successful prosecution of maritime offenders.

    To contain cases of firearm smuggling, drug/human trafficking and illegal fishing, the OTC said the various stakeholders must work together.

    According to him, the NN has done a lot in terms of human capacity development such as joint patrol and testing of exhibit samples, adding that the exercise had fostered better understanding among GoG nations especially with the borderless sea patrols done this year.

    To the Comanmder NNS CENTENARY Captain Adedotun Ayo-Vaughan, the exercise served as deterrence to criminals who would have attacked merchant vessels but for the heavy presence of warships across the GoG.

    Government agencies that took part in the sea exercise included the Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Agriculture (Fisheries Department), National Drug Law Enforcement Agency  (NDLEA), Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Nigerian Immigration Service  (NUS), Nigeria Police, Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), the Nigerian Army and Nigerian Air Force, among others.

  • Why Form M is delayed – Customs

    The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) on Monday explained the current delay in the approval of both Form ‘M’s as well as the issuance of Pre-Arrival Assessment Reports (PAAR) at the PAAR Ruling Centre is in the interest of stakeholders.

    It’s Public Relations Officer, Mr. Joseph Attah, in a statement explained: “the delay being experienced in the process of Form ‘M’ and PAAR now is due to internal auditing of Fast-Track beneficiaries, which hitherto made up 20% in order to fish out the non-compliant beneficiaries.

    “NCS has now put in place modalities to identify this group of beneficiaries with a bid to removing them from the scheme while compliant ones continue to enjoy the fast track facility.”

    According to the statement, the normal speed in process will be restored immediately the backlog accumulated due to this intervention is cleared from the system.

    Read Also: Customs begins interrogation of officers

    The statement recalled that the timelines for approval of Form ‘M’ and issuance of PAAR were approved by the Customs Comptroller-General, Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali (Rtd) in April 2018.

    “The approval allocated a maximum of 24 hours process time for Form ‘M’ and the issuance of PAAR after the upload of all relevant documents from the duty collecting banks.

    “Nigeria Customs Service will continue to uphold the timelines and facilitate the timely process of all Imports and Exports in line with Federal Government effort to make Nigeria an investment destination.

    “While craving the understanding of our dear stakeholders in the on-going effort to clean the system, please be assured of the Service determination to make Import and Export processes even better,” the service added.

     

  • Ogun killing: Customs detains four officers

    The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has detained four of its men in connection with the “accidental discharge” incident of last Sunday which claimed the life of one Godwin Onoja.

    The incident, which happened at the Sagamu inter change on the Lagos-Benin expressway, involved some operative of the (NCS) Federal Operations Unit, (FOU) A while on anti-smuggling patrol.

    The National Public Relations Officer of the NCS, Joseph Attah in a statement made available to The Nation, Tuesday, said the Comptroller General of the service, Hameed Ali (rtd) had set up a panel led by the Zonal Coordinator A, to investigate the killing, assuring that any officer caught on the wrong side will be death with accordingly.

    It will be recalled that bullets from the riffle of a Customs officer, ASCI Destiny Onebamho, hit and killed Onoja, described as a friend of the Customs,  during a heated argument that ensued while the FOU Zone A operatives where trying to apprehend a passenger bus loaded with bales of used clothings.

    “Following the unfortunate incident on Sunday 17th February 2019 at Sagamu Interchange involving Operatives of the Federal Operations Unit Zone A, which led to the death of a fellow citizen, Mr. Godwin Agada Onoja, the Nigeria Customs Service has continued to maintain close contact with the bereaved family.

    “We are pained by this sad development and share the grief of losing a fellow compatriot in a seemingly avoidable circumstance. We are and will continue to take every necessary step that will cushion the pain associated with losing a dear one.”

    “Consequently, the Comptroller-General of Customs Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali (Rtd) has directed a thorough investigation into the immediate and remote causes of the incident with the view to ensuring that justice is served.”

    Read Also: Customs’ ‘accidental discharge’ kills one

    Attach assured that the outcome of the panel would be made public for all Nigerians, adding that the officers whose rifle discharged would also face the panel as soon as he’s fit.

    “In line with this directive, the investigation panel headed by the Zonal Coordinator Zone A, ACG Kaycee Ekekezie has interrogated and detained four members of the patrol team.

    “The panel could not immediately conclude the investigation because the actual officer (ASCI Destiny Onebamho) whose riffle discharged is presently receiving medical attention as a result of attack following the unfortunate incident. He will face the panel as soon as he is fit to do so, to enable the panel conclude investigation and recommend appropriate action(s).

    NCS is a reputable organization known for integrity and responsibility. In line with our corporate values, we will not shield any operative found wanting in this ongoing investigation. The Service appreciates the public concern and strong emotions drawn from the viral video with narratives that created various opinions.”

    “Nigerians will recall that in 2017, the Service made public its investigation and dismissal of five (5) officers implicated in the illegal release of the 661-pump action riffles from Apapa Port. The dismissed officers were immediately handed over for prosecution alongside the importer and agent. A prosecution that is ongoing at the Federal High Court, Ikoyi Lagos.”

    He further assured that the investigation would comprise the weapon handling skills and actions that must be taken by the Service to possibly prevent future occurrence.

    “In the same vein, the ongoing investigation will be holistic including looking at the weapon handling skills and actions that must be taken by the Service to possibly prevent future occurrence. We will continue to update the public details of every action taken in the handling of this unfortunate incident.”

  • We can’t be cowed to relax, Customs vows

    The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Thursday sent a chilling message to opponents to underscore its fierce implementation of any-smuggling war that no amount of blackmail would force it abdicate its duty.

    There has been a social media onslaught on the activities of the service since the present Comptroller-General, Col. Hameed Ali rtd, changed the old order, intensified transparency and rule of law in the organization.

    Read Also:Suspected kidnappers of customs officer nabbed

    Those that benefited from the spoils in the old order are however, fighting with everything in their capacity to reverse the trend.

    But the Public Relations Officer, Mr. Joseph Attah, who spoke with The Nation in his office Thursday, countered the “insinuations,” of the critics, describing them as measures to mislead the public to force the NCS to chicken out of its enforcement of the anti-smuggling law.

    The spokesman, who listed the pace-setting achievements of Ali’s led Customs to include the generation of the highest ever N1.037 trillion last year and definitely surpassing that figure this year.

    Seizure of 2,671 pump action raffle last year, the last week seizure of 59 containers of tramadol and other controlled drugs across the commands.

    He submitted that “it becomes questionable if it is at this time that the people will choose to say otherwise. We are not surprised because we understand that the new style of doing things blocks the interest of certain people.

    “So, they may consider this particular time when the service is being celebrated for spectacular  performances to insinuate nepotism, non-trade facilitation, corruption and other vices,  just to cast the service in bad light and cause confusion to bring darkness where there is light. But darkness cannot exist where there is light.

    “This is the new Nigeria Customs Service under the CGC, Col. Hammed Ali rtd. The service that is discipline focused and determined to serve Nigerians better. I therefore urge the general public not to be distracted from supporting the service to serve the nation better.”

    The social media publications, according to him, are alleging that there are goods in the warehouse because the Comptroller-General has refused to allow the appointed auctioneers to auction them or allow Customs Area Comptrollers to auction them.

    The Public Relations Officer said that “it clearly shows lack of understanding of the process. For the avoidance of doubt, auctioning of seized goods is the statutory function of the service in line with section 167, (2) of the Customs and Excise Management Act CAP 45 LFM 2004.”

    Attah said that in view of the performance of the service under the current administration, it calls to question the intention of the critics, as Customs generates more revenue now than it has ever  generated in its over 100 years of existence.

    Attributing the rise in revenue generation to the commitment of the officers to put national interest above personal interest, he said “in Apapa we did not just seized 40 containers, we paraded the three suspects and the N150 million bribe money that was rejected”

    He also noted that contrary to such people say, no Customs officer now needs any connection to get promoted as it is all based on merit.

    He added that no officer is so allowed to remain in a particular beat of operation for over three years unlike the previous practice when officers could spend eight years in a particular beat.

    This is to avoid over familiarity that could lead to compromise.

    On auctioning of the customs goods, the spokesman said that since 3rd July, 2017, the Comptroller-General of Customs introduced the e-auction platform to eliminate the sharp practices that were associated with the manual process of the past. The e auction enhances maximum revenue generation and gives Nigerians equal opportunities.

    According to him, the e-auction guarantees the security of the revenue.

     

     

  • Customs confiscates N572m goods, arrests 11

    The Federal Operations Unit, Zone B of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Kaduna, confiscated goods with Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N572 million in the past three months.

    The Controller of the unit, Comptroller Mohammed Mustapha, made this known on Wednesday in Kaduna while taking journalists round the confiscated goods.

    He said that 11 suspects were arrested in connection with the seized goods, adding that they would be charged to court at the conclusion of investigations.

    Read Also: Customs seizes Tramadol worth N7.3b

    Mustapha said that confiscated items included trucks and smuggled rice, spaghetti and vegetable oil loaded on them.

    He said that the NCS also impounded 12 other vehicles including J5, Sharon, Passat and golf which were conveying smuggled 3,200 cartoons of spaghetti and secondhand clothes.

    The official said that one of the seized trucks carried 350 bags of 50kg foreign rice concealed in bags of maize.

     

    (NAN)

  • Customs to partner Uganda on electronic cargo tracking – Col. Ali

    The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) is set to partner Uganda Customs on the implementation of electronic cargo tracking system in the monitoring and management of goods in transit within and outside the borders of the country.

    The Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), retired Col. Hameed Ali, revealed this in his interaction with newsmen at a lecture organised by the Nigeria Customs Command and Staff College, on Wednesday in Abuja.

    According to him, “The Nigeria Customs have reached some understanding in the area of electronic cargo tracking which is a flagship project of the Uganda Customs Organization, which is effective in monitoring goods in transit and in the transfer of containers from one port to the other without the fear of illegal diversion.

    “Our research and development department have been charged to look at all proposals and to figure out what we really need to get electronic cargo tracking in place. We hope to reach all stakeholders to get their buy-in.

    “It is our hope that if all things work out fine, by next year, if the finances are given and we reach an agreement with our technologists and service providers, we should be able to start something even if it is in a small scale and expand as we go on.

    “The Electronic tracking system is not only a matter of the technology but we also must put in place the enforcement for it to be effective.”

    Read Also: Two Ugandan peacekeepers killed in ambush in Somalia

    Ali also added that: “We also have frank discussions on anti-corruption strategies based on zero tolerance; we are ready to deploy appropriate strategies which focus on addressing the basic human needs of officers and fight and bring to the barest minimum systemic corruption.”

    He therefore urged officers of the NCS to work for the interest of the Customs and extricate every form of illegal acquisition of riches and stand for what is right even if it is not a popular decision.

    According to him, “Monetary inducement is not motivation. No amount of money is ever enough. Inner motivation (pride) is what gets you doing your job not the external motivation (money) you receive.”

    The NSC boss urged officers to be leaders who are firm in their decision and not seek to be nice and people pleasers.

    The Commissioner of Customs, Uganda Revenue Authority, Mr Kateshumbwa Dicksons, in his address said: “I am here because of the close collaboration between the Uganda Customs and the NCS. Both countries as members of the World Customs Organisation (WCO) and the African Union (AU) play significant roles in the affairs of Customs at the local and international level.

    “Our political leaders have given us direction towards implementing the Africa Continental Free Trade agreement which is now the latest flagship initiative across our continent. For us to be able to implement that, it demands a lot of harmonization across administrations and Customs.

    “This is an opportunity to strengthen our administrations by working together. We are collaborating in terms of sharing experiences and capacity building.

    “All countries across the world are competing for investment. If you have a country with a lot of red tape procedures, difficult environment and high cost of living, investors will move to countries that have good investment climate. So, we have to put in place the right procedures and the right people to implement those procedures.”

  • Bayelsa partners Customs on cargo airport

    The Bayelsa government and the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) are set to deepen cooperation in ensuring a smooth take off of the state’s International Cargo Airport.
    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the cargo airport is located along Amasoma Road, in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa.
    The Director General of the Bayelsa Investment Promotion Agency (BIPA) Mrs Patience Abah, made the disclosure on Wednesday, during a tour of the airport’s facilities by officers of the NCS in Amasoma.
    Abah described the services of NCS as critical in a cargo airport, while also disclosing that the State government was also collaborating with the NCS in the Agge Deep Seaport project.
    “We are forming the right partnership with key stakeholders to assist us in providing support services to investors and business persons and among the key stakeholders is the NCS.

    Read Also: Bayelsa, professionals fault minister on N800b debt

    “We are commissioning the cargo airport very soon, but we cannot operate cargo services without the involvement of NCS, because there will be export and import services.
    “So, their role is very critical to making sure that these operations run smoothly.
    “We also have the Agge Seaport project that we are working on as well. We intend to set up a terminal for movement of critical goods and provision of services,” she said.
    The Rivers/Bayelsa Command of the NCS, represented by Assistant Superintendent Dyako Tyavkase, said the role of Customs officers at the airport was critical, particularly in the area of revenue generation.
    Tyavkase assured the state government of the readiness of NCS to partner them when the airport became operational.

  • Fayose to EFCC: Meet me in my office on September 20

    Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose has fired another letter to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) suggesting a September 20 date for the agency to interrogate him in his office in Ado-Ekiti.

    Fayose said the Commission should wait till October 16 at the expiration of his immunity if it cannot deploy its interrogators to Ado-Ekiti on the suggested date.

    He criticized the EFCC for writing Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and other security agencies demanding that he be placed on a watch list to prevent him from escaping from the country to evade justice.

    These were contained in another letter Fayose forwarded to the EFCC in which he restated his readiness to make himself available for investigation and interrogation.

    He contended that the action of the EFCC raised a serious question about its impartiality, neutrality and independence.

    The latest letter from Fayose’s table dated September 14 was made available to reporters in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital on Tuesday.

    The governor however said should the EFCC be so much in a hurry that its investigation cannot await October 16, 2018, which the first day after the expiration of his tenure, “without prejudice to Section 308 of the Constitution, I will be willing to answer questions from your team of investigators should they be willing to meet me in my office in Ado Ekiti on the 20th September 2018” indicated in the EFCC’s letter dated September 13, 2018.

    He reminded the EFCC that “in 2007, precisely on the 19th day of December, I willingly presented myself for EFCC investigation at your Lagos office.”

    Fayose said: “There is therefore nothing new or strange in my letter of 10th September 2018 which has been received and treated in bad faith and taste. I thought I was assisting due and fair process of law.”

    “As a responsible citizen of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, who currently enjoys immunity under Section 308 of the Constitution, it would amount to a breach of the Constitution which I swore to uphold if I appear in your office on any date earlier than 16th October 2018.
    If done otherwise, it will set a wrong precedent for the Constitutional Institution that I represent.

    “I carefully chose that date (October 16, 2018) being the next day after the expiration of my tenure upon which the immunity I enjoy will lapse to avoid any form of insinuation and was in good faith.

    “While drafting my response to yours of 14th September 2018, my attention was drawn to your widely publicized letter of 12th September 2018 to the Comptroller General, Nigeria Customs Service and similar agencies, directing them to watch-list and arrest me on an imagination that I might leave Nigeria to escape investigation. It has finally put in context, your Commission’s hurriedly deleted online statement vide EFCC Nigeria @OfficialEFCC a day after the Ekiti governorship election that: “The parri is over; the clock of immunity turn apart, and the
    staff broken. Ekiti Integrated Poultry Project/Biological Concepts Limited N1.3bn fraud case file dusted off the shelves. See you soon.”

    “Your Commission by its actions, no doubt has presumed my ‘quilt’ even prior to the commencement of “investigation”. This raises serious question about the impartiality, independence or neutrality of the Commission in the matter. I feel harassed, intimidated and embarrassed by the imputation of crime and the innuendos of criminality underlining your correspondence which has been maliciously circulated widely. This in all implies a case of persecution rather than prosecution.

    “While I have handed a copy of your letter to my Solicitors for a careful study and advice, let me state here for the records, that there is nothing about me or my antecedents, as a long standing public figure to justify the Commission’s action. I have never been a coward or criminal.

    “You may wish to recall that in 2007, precisely on the 19th day of December, I willingly presented myself for EFCC investigation at your Lagos office. There is therefore nothing new or strange in my letter of 10th September 2018 which has been received and treated in bad
    faith and taste. I thought I was assisting due and fair process of law.

    “Notwithstanding the demonstrated hate and prejudice, I reaffirm my willingness to make myself available to answer questions within my knowledge on the day you may indicate after expiration of my term of office on the 15th October 2018.

    “If for any good reasons, your investigation cannot await the date suggested in my earlier letter, without prejudice to Section 308 of the Constitution, I will be willing to answer questions from your team of investigators should they be willing to meet me in my office in Ado
    Ekiti on the 20th September 2018 indicated in yours.

    “Save as above, I will appreciate any date convenient to you after 15th October 2018, otherwise, expect me on the 16th October 2018 at 1pm as earlier stated.”

  • Customs records N118b highest monthly revenue ever 

    Three days to the end of August, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has already generated N118billion -the highest revenue monthly collection ever, it was learnt Wednesday.

    The Nation gathered from the Public Relations Officer, Mr. Joseph Attah in Abuja that the Comptroller-General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali (Rtd) made the disclosure in Abuja yesterday.

    The Customs PRO, who was quoting the Customs boss, said that “this month, the service has generated the highest ever monthly collection. It is still three days to the end of the month. And he announced a collection of N118 billion.”

    Read Also:2019 elections: Customs to deploy scanners in ports

    Attah based the impressive collection on the upgrade of the electronic platform from Nigeria Customs Information System (NISES), stressing that “system has now effectively blocked all the leakages that were associated with the former platform. It now monitors every Kobo being collected in the system.”

    The spokesman added that the no nonsense stance of the Comptroller-General was also accountable for the hugest monthly collection.

    The implementation of NISES, he said, is now giving rise to increase in revenue collection and increased contribution to the national treasury.

    He noted that the collection will assist the government to meet its promises to the citizenry in terms of infrastructure development in the face of dwindling oil revenue.

    Asked whether the implementation of the National Automative Policy has improved the industry or worsened it, Attah said that being a government policy, the NCS is bound to implement it.

    Continuing, he said that “ours is to implement. But then if you go to the streets, you will know how many cars have been assembled indigenously, and what local value content was brought into it.”