The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Nigeria Customs Service (NCS)

  • 99 percent importers evade duty, says Customs boss

    99 percent importers evade duty, says Customs boss

    The Comptroller-General, Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Col. Hameed Ali (Rtd) Thursday said that 99 per cent of the nation’s importers are non-compliant with the customs duty and charges.

    According to him, the importers are unpatriotic to Nigeria even when they pay duty to other countries they deny theirs its dues.

    Ali, who was speaking as the Chief Host at the public presentation of the book “Appraisal of Crime of Smuggling in Nigeria,” in Abuja, pointed out that the belief of a typical Nigerian, is that he does not owe his country any obligation.

    Narrating his encounter with an importer, who settled all the charges for two cars  in Benin Republic and Niger Republic and evaded Nigeria’s, he said that  “somebody picked up two cars from Benin Republic, when he landed in Benin he paid every charges, he move them to Niger, and paid every charges he is supposed to pay.

    “But those cars are destined for Nigeria. When he now comes to Nigeria, he decided to take an un-costumed route and brought those cars to Nigeria. And when we did apprehend those vehicles the question I asked him is why are you so unpatriotic?

    “You could pay to Benin Republic, you could pay to Niger, and then coming to your own home, you don’t want to pay. He said the duty is too high.

    “And I said then why did you buy the two cars in the first place?  This is the mentality of the Nigerian; he does not believe that he owes anything to his own country.”

    The country, he said, cannot make progress in a situation, where people are not complying with the law and unfortunately, all that Nigerians think is how to circumvent the law.

    He commended the author of the book, Musa Omale for not allowing his knowledge, experience and writing skills to die.

    The customs boss noted that the book has made the job of the NCS easier and enjoined all the stakeholders to buy and read it.

    He assured the author that the Nigeria Customs Service will deploy copies of the books to its libraries and commands.

    Speaking with journalists, immediate past president of Association of Nigerian License Customs Agents, Chief Ernest Elochukwu noted that book is an exposure of the dimension of smuggling and the laws that are in place to tackle it.

    He said that the fight against smuggling can also be viewed from other angles like the creation of an enabling environment that does not promote smuggling.

    This, he said, government can achieve that by making sensible policies in terms of what it bans and does not ban.

    He submitted that “when there is so much of ban in the list of items that could be imported into the country, especially if they are essential items, the issue of smuggling becomes inevitable.”

    Meanwhile, the author said that what motivated him is that he has been in the Customs for past 26 years and as an experience officer about the level of damage of smuggling to the economy and decided to turn his research for PhD on smuggling into a book.

  • 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 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.

    NAN

  • NCC seizes 28 containers of pirated works – Official

    NCC seizes 28 containers of pirated works – Official

    The Nigerian Copyright Commission ( NCC ), says 28 shipping containers comprising pirated books and audio-visual works were confiscated from 2011 to the first quarter of 2017.

    Mr. Afam Ezekude, the Director General of the NCC, said this during the signing of signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between NCC and the Nigeria Customs Service ( NCS ), on collaborative anti-piracy operations at the nation’s ports and borders, on Wednesday in Abuja.

    Mr Hameed Ali, Comptroller General of NCS signed on behalf of the service.

    Ezekude who lauded the NSC’s role in the seizure, said that the NCS remained its crucial ally in the commission’s anti-piracy drive.

    “This MoU is a step in the right direction as it has formally set in motion synergised efforts between us in our fight against piracy.

    “Movements of pirated works at border points through the air, sea and land, will henceforth be checked effectively.

    “This development has further reiterated our zero-tolerance stand against any means through which pirated works enter the Nigeria market,” he said.

    In his remark, the CG of NCS, Hameed Ali, said that since the organisations were involved in enforcement of government policies, there was need for them to work closely for effective delivery on their mandates.

    He therefore urged NCC to provide relevant expertise training on copyrights to officers of the NCS for them to be more effective in their hunt for pirated creative work at ports and borders.

    “We have realized that we need each other to work more effectively, and this MoU will help in achieving that goal.

    “However, there is need for relevant training for our officers so that they can identify pirated products from the original ones at the ports”, he said.

    The MoU which is for three years is subject to renewal thereafter.

    According to the chief executives, the MoU is to formalise and strengthen the inter-agency collaboration between the two organisations, and to explore further ways to collectively curb importation of pirated works into the country.

    NAN

  • Customs intercepts 200 bags of illegal imported rice at Oron

    Customs intercepts 200 bags of illegal imported rice at Oron

    The Calabar Free Trade Zone and Akwa Ibom Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has seized 200 bags of smuggled foreign rice at Oron in Akwa Ibom State.

    Mrs Burromvyat Patience, the Customs Area Controller in charge of Calabar Free Trade Zone and Akwa Ibom Area Command, made this known to newsmen in Calabar on Saturday.

    Patience said that the Heavy Duty Mack Truck that was carrying the 50kg bags of rice was intercepted by the Operating Officers of the command on Nov. 22, on the Oron axis.

    She said that the suspects had disguised the rice as sand and covered the bags with empty sacks.

    She added that it took the operational intelligence of the officers of the service to discover that it was smuggled parboiled rice that the truck was carrying.

    “The NCS is at it again. Today, I present to you a rare seizure; rare in the sense that our operating officers at Oron axis were able to successfully intercept a heavy duty truck with 200 bags of illegally imported rice.

    “The seizure is spectacular because the officers went the extra mile to apprehend the suspects, who made frantic efforts to escape.

    “The concealment, no doubt was designed to beat the prying eyes of our officers but the reverse became the case.

    “The duty paid value of the seizure is put at N5.9million and the truck registration number is NTE 35 XA,’’ she said.

    She disclosed that a total of 1,521 bags of smuggled rice were seized by the command between January and October this year with a duty paid value of N34.9 million.

    “It will be recalled that in October, this command presented a revenue profit of N7.8 billion which is about 90 per cent of the command’s annual revenue target of N8.7 billion.

    “Our successes so far were possible courtesy of the amiable Controller-General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ali (rtd),’’ she said.

    She reiterated the command’s commitment to combat all smuggling activities and enforce Federal Government’s fiscal policies.

  • Customs hands over seized container of pharmaceutical products to NDLEA

    Customs hands over seized container of pharmaceutical products to NDLEA

    The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Tin-Can Island Command, on Monday said it had handed over a 40-foot container containing confiscated and falsely declared pharmaceutical goods to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency ( NDLEA ).

    The  Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Yusuf Bashar, listed the items to include:  Spectradol (Tramadol) capsules, Spectra-Doxycycline capsules and Jinart tablets that were falsely declared as vehicles.

    Bashar in a statement said that the area handed over the container to the NDLEA, Tin-Can Island Port commander, Mr Nse Jack.

    Bashar listed other seized drugs to include; Clarinthromycin tablets and Jincold-Extra Strength capsules.
    The controller said the service would continue to build on the existing inter-agency cooperation with all concerned regulatory agencies, in its efforts at ensuring that illicit goods were intercepted at ports.

    Bashar lamented the increasing negative effects that fake drugs were having on the teeming Nigerian youths.

    He also decried the level at which Nigerian youths consumed these drugs illegally, making them to exhibit despicable acts.
    The controller, who linked the frequency of drugs seizures in recent times to the forthcoming election year, said that consumption of such drugs by the youths usually gave them false illusion to perpetuate deplorable acts.

    He said the command recently seized arms, cars, drugs and other goods.

    Bashar said that an importer, who falsely declared some pharmaceutical products as imported vehicles and another container as containing computer accessories, could never be described as a patriotic citizen.

    “It is not just about money but the health and well-being of the people.

    “Every Nigerian should show care about the lives of Nigerians and it is not about revenue nor trade facilitation but about the good of Nigeria and Nigerians, so this must stop.’’ the controller said.

    Bashar gave the name of the importer as Jin Spectra Pharmaceutical Ltd., based in , Kano.

    He also said the name of the clearing agency was Febeaco Nigeria Ltd., with office along  Apapa/Oshodi Expressway,  Apapa, Lagos.

    The controller expressed confidence in the officials of the NDLEA to complete its investigation and prosecute offenders.

    He, however, said that the NCS would not allow unpatriotic and inconsiderate importers and agents to use the Tin-Can Island Port as a dumping ground to perpetrate their illegal operations.

    Bashar recalled that some weeks ago, two containers of falsely- declared pharmaceutical products were also handed over to National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control ( NAFDAC ).

    According to him, there are over 100 million youths in Nigeria. If they are allowed unregulated access to these drugs that will portend great danger for the nation.

    Mr Nse Jack who received the consignments on behalf of the Chairman of NDLEA commended the controller for his consistent commitment to the concept of inter-agency collaboration and synergy over time.

    He said that the NDLEA would conduct further due diligence test to unravel details of the importer for eventual prosecution of suspects.

    NAN

  • NCS collects N2.1bn in Niger

    NCS collects N2.1bn in Niger

    The Niger Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service ( NCS ), collected N2.1 billion revenue from January to October, the area comptroller, Benjamin Binga, has said.

    Binga made this disclosure in an interview in Minna on Friday.

    “Our revenue target for the year is N2.8 billion and so far, we have collected N2.1 billion,’’ he said.

    He expressed optimism that the command would meet the target due to the commitment of its personnel and concrete measures put in place to ensure diligence in revenue collection.

    Binga warned smugglers and others aiding and abetting them to desist from any form of smuggling.

    The comptroller said that the service would go extra miles to confront the  smugglers.

    “We are ready through the various security strategies put in place to ensure the arrest and prosecution of all those involved in smuggling,’’ he said.

    Binga called for more support from the border communities to assist the service with intelligence information about the movement of smugglers.

    NAN

  • Revenue: Customs collects N163m in October – Official

    Revenue: Customs collects N163m in October – Official

    The Niger Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service ( NCS ), on Wednesday said that it had collected N163 million as revenue in October.

    The Area Comptroller of Customs, Mr Binga Benjamin, made this disclosure in an interview in Minna.

    He implored residents of the border communities to always provide the command some useful  information about  the activities of rice and vehicle smugglers.

    “We have put in place sensitive security measures in all identified illegal routes used by smugglers;

    “And we will continue to strengthen the existing cordial relationship with the border communities in order to prevent smuggling;

    “My area of supervision is a ‘no go area’ for any kind of smuggling business as armed personnel have been stationed there to prevent illegal activities”.

    He said that the area command would reward handsomely any person or group, who might provide useful information leading to  the arrest and prosecutions of  smugglers.

    NAN

  • Senate to publish names of companies in alleged N30trn scam

    Senate to publish names of companies in alleged N30trn scam

    The Senate says it is set to publish names of companies found culpable in investigation into alleged N30 trillion revenue scam in the import and export value chain.

    Sen. Hope Uzodinma, Chairman of the Joint Committee on Customs, Excise and Tariff and Marine Transport, made this known in an interview with newsmen on Sunday.

    He said the committee had completed its first batch of investigation involving over 60 companies and would publish names of companies involved in various infractions leading to loss of government revenue.

    He said the committee was releasing the names because it had established culpability against the companies.

    Uzodinma added that the names to be published would contain details of how much of recoverable government revenue was with each of the companies.

    The lawmaker stressed that companies found to be involved in infractions bothering on money laundering and foreign exchange abuses would be referred to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ( EFCC ) for prosecution and recovery of the monies.

    He added that those bothering on smuggling and import infractions would be referred to the Nigeria Customs Service for recovery of such revenues and possibly blacklisting.

    “We got up to the point that even the companies themselves have seen that they are culpable and that is why we want to publish the names and hand them over to EFCC and Customs.

    “The reason for the delay in publishing the names all the while is to establish culpability against the companies.

    “Now through various reconciliations, it has been established and we are no longer in doubt, including the companies that are involved, that these things are in existence and that they are culpable.

    “We have presented the interim report which detailed how much we have recovered so far and the Senate approved it in plenary, while an extension was given to us to do the final reconciliation.

    “We do not want emphasis to continue to be on how much we have recovered even though it is contained in the report. We want those companies found culpable to go to government and make payments,’’ he said.

    The chairman further said that “some of the companies have started paying while others have not. None of them have fully paid what we have established against them.

    “Since they have started paying, we will now transfer the matter to the Customs, who will now do a recovery schedule with the companies that are willing to pay what is due to government.

    “By the time the names are published, Nigerians and the Federal Government will know which company is owing what and the relevant agencies will go after them to recover the money.’’

    The chairman said that the committee would commence the second batch of investigation after some oversight visits to establish culpability.

    He assured that the committee would not be deterred in its effort to assist government in recovering monies meant for the development of the economy.

    He stressed that the legislature would continue to use its constitutional powers to assist the executive in blocking leakages and increasing revenue generation, particularly in the non-oil sector.

    Uzodinma said it was appalling that in spite of government’s effort to improve revenue generation to meet the country’s development needs, some people were still involved in jeopardising such effort.

    The joint committee was mandated by the Senate to carry out investigation into alleged N30 trillion revenue leakages in foreign exchange and the entire import and export value chain between 2006 and 2017.

    It was mandated to identify leakages and irregularities in the system and come up with recommendations that would block further leakages and strengthen the revenue drive of the Nigeria Customs Service.

    In an interim report presented to the Senate on Oct. 18, the committee said it had recovered N140 billion.

    The report indicated that some collection banks had made remittances to the Central Bank of Nigeria to the tune of N128 billion with evidence of payment received by the committee.

    It further indicated that some of the 60 companies made voluntary payment of over N12 billion to government based on internal self-audit after receiving documented evidence of culpability from the committee.

    The report also indicated that the committee identified 32 leakage channels as the major sources of revenue loss in the import-export value chain, including undervaluation, wrong tariff classification and abuse of waivers and concessions.

    NAN

  • Customs intercept harmful smuggled products in Ibadan

    Customs intercept harmful smuggled products in Ibadan

    Attempt to smuggle expired and harmful imported bags of  rice, bales of second hand clothings, and used tyres into the country was botched by men of the  Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Oyo/Osun Command Wednesday.

    Three persons who were said to be behind the illicit trade were also arrested in connection with the prohibited goods.

    A total of  one thousand, four hundred and forty bags of rice (1,440) with duty paid value of nineteen million, three hundred and eighty thousand, one hundred and sixty kobo  (N19,380,160.00) were  also seized .

    Speaking with journalists at a press conference to showcase the activities of the command, the Customs Area Controller (CAC), Mr. Elisha David Chikan Wednesday informed that the duty paid value of all the seized items was N55, 660,245.00.

    He said  that fourteen vehicles, 30 bales and jumbo sacks of second-hand clothing materials and used tyres with duty paid value of N25,703,875.00, N4,062,500.00 and N6,513,710.00 respectively were seized within the command’s territory.

    According to the Area Controller three people who are still under investigation were arrested in connection with the seized items.

    Chikan also noted that most of the seizures were effected along Oyo/Ibadan Road while the Tokunbo vehicles were arrested within Saki axis at Aleniboro village in ATISBO Local Government area of Oyo State.

    He said that all the seizures were made within three weeks.

    “Consequently, the eagle-eyed operatives of the command succeeded within the period under review in botching the illicit attempts of smugglers to ferry into the country assorted contrabands including foreign rice, bales of second hand clothings, used tyres as well as Tokunbo vehicles through the borders of this area command.

    “Specifically, we have been able to successfully effect the following seizures during the period under review.

    “Nissan Almera carrying 20 bags of (50kg) foreign rice, DAF 45 truck with 800 pieces of used tyres, Mazda bus with 50 bags of (50kg) foreign rice, Mazda Bus with 30 bales and Jumbo sacks of second-hand clothings, Volvo Tipper with 100 bags of (50kg) foreign rice, Mercedes Benz Truck 911 with 200 bags of foreign rice, Truck with 420 bags of foreign rice, Mazda Bus with 50 bags of foreign rice and HowoTrailer Truck with 600 bags of foreign rice”, he

    Other items that were paraded Wednesday included Mazda Premacy -Tokunbo Car, Toyota Camry -Tokunbo Car, Volkswagen Golf -Tokunbo Car, Nissan Serena -Tokunbo Car and Mitsubishi Lancer -Tokunbo Car.

  • Customs seized 497,279 bags of rice in two years – DG

    Customs seized 497,279 bags of rice in two years – DG

    The Nigeria Customs Service ( NCS ) says it has seized 497,279 bags of imported rice between 2015 and August, 2017 with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N3.8 billion.

    The Comptroller-General of the service, retired Col. Hameed Ali, disclosed this in a document obtained by the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja on Sunday.

    Ali said that 90,073 bags of rice were seized in 2015 with DPV of N693 million while 280,109 bags of rice were impounded in 2016 with DPV of N2.156 billion.

    He added that between January and August 2017, no fewer than 127,097 bags of rice were seized with DPV of N978 million.

    “From January to March this year, about four enterprises registered with Tinapa Free Trade Zone (FTZ) Calabar in Cross River State syndicated the importation of 533 containers of rice.

    He said the containers loaded with 299,564 bags of rice were brought into the free zone through Onne Port in Port Harcourt, Rivers.

    “Certainly, this rice cannot be consumed within Tinapa and there is no value added through further processing as to bring it to Nigerian territory.

    “It took the Nigeria Customs Service a big battle with the importers and Tinapa authorities to compel them to re-export it out of Nigeria.

    “As at Sept. 19, this year, 299 containers were re-exported.

    “If this is to be allowed, it has the potential of undermining the food security policy of the Federal Government.

    “With the attendant consequence of driving all the industries in the chain of production out of business, primarily the local farmers and rice millers,” Ali said.

    He said that in the past, the Federal Government had introduced policies like Operation Feed the Nation and Green Revolution to ensure food sufficiency.

    He added that the major cause of failure of these policies was smuggling.

    According to him, it is the realisation of this that made the Federal Government to ban the importation of rice through the land borders.

    “The ban of rice importation through the land borders has made the task of fighting smuggling by the NCS more challenging.

    “Because major rice importers in the country have decided to shun the use of Nigerian ports and now divert their cargo to Cotonou where they bring it into Nigeria in trickles,” he said.

    NAN