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Tag: Nigeria Customs Service

  • Customs Debunks Allegation of Wrongdoing in E-auction of Overtime, Seized Goods

    Customs Debunks Allegation of Wrongdoing in E-auction of Overtime, Seized Goods

    The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), has rebutted the claims making the rounds about its involvement in an e-auction of overtime and seized goods.

    This was disclosed in a statement issued by Customs Spokesperson, Abdullahi Maiwada on Saturday.

    “The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) is in receipt of a report titled “The Monumental Stealing By The Customs Auction Committee And Their Plans To Dispose-Off Overtime Containers” with great concern. It is disheartening to note the serious allegations regarding the integrity of the ongoing e-auction process designed to provide a level playing ground for all Nigerians.

    “The NCS is a law-abiding government organization dedicated to maintaining the most outstanding levels of accountability and transparency in all its activities and taking any accusations of improper behaviour seriously,” the statement read in part.

    Similarly, NCS denied involvement in fraudulent activities or underhand dealings as regards the e-auctioning of vehicles or other goods.

    “The NCS Auction Committee operates within the confines of the law and adheres strictly to established guidelines and procedures for disposing of seized/overtime goods.”

    Nigeria Customs added: “Regarding the allegation that over 300 vehicles have been auctioned to just one individual via the e-auction window after purported underhand payments, we wish to state that this is entirely false, misguided, and spurious. Furthermore, suggesting that a token sum of N10,000 is collected as duties to the Federal Government on the e-auction window, which has a reserved price of N400, 000 is indeed misleading and misrepresentation of fact.”

    It further disclosed that from the data generated upon completing five successful bidding windows, 13,605 applicants registered in the five windows e-auction portal; 476 vehicles were uploaded, and 462 won.

    “Also, the government realized N556,738,736 as revenue. It begs the question of where the allegations are coming from.”

    The Service reiterated its commitment to remain transparent, accountable and always adhere to the rule of law in all activities.

    It also urged members of the public to join the Service with the common goal of promoting an inclusive system that is fair to all Nigerians irrespective of their status.

  • Comptroller Ojike Assumes Kebbi Customs Command Leadership

    Comptroller Ojike Assumes Kebbi Customs Command Leadership

    Comptroller Iheanacho Ernest Ojike has taken over as the Customs Area Controller (CAC) of Kebbi Command following the end of Comptroller Husseini Bello Ahmed’s reign.

    This was made known in a statement released by the Spokesperson of Kebbi Area Command, Mohammed Tajudeen Salisu on Friday.

    “Nigeria Customs Service, Kebbi Area Command welcomes Comptroller Iheanacho Ernest Ojike as the new Customs Area Controller (CAC). The grand occasion took place at the Command conference room on Thursday, 15 February 2024.

    “The new sheriff in town, while bidding farewell to the outgoing Comptroller warned smugglers that Kebbi is no more a breeding ground for smuggling activities. He further stated that officers under his watch must be patriotic and disciplined,” it stated.

    The outgoing Comptroller, Husseini Bello Ahmed extended gratitude to God for the successes he attained during his career and stay in Kebbi.

    He also thanked the management, men of the Command, state government and other sister agencies for their constant support – and urged them to give the necessary support to the incoming Comptroller.

  • Nigeria Customs Commits to Relationship with Stakeholders in 2024

    Nigeria Customs Commits to Relationship with Stakeholders in 2024

    The Nigeria Customs Service has committed to fostering substantially improved relationships with compliant stakeholders in 2024.

    The Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi made this commitment on Friday, January 26, 2024, during the International Customs Day Celebration at the Customs Training College, Ikeja, Lagos.

    The event had in attendance the Honourable Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola,
    Representative of the Honourable Minister of Trade, Investment and Industries, Chief Executives of Nigerian Ports Authority,
    NIMASA, Nigerian Shippers’ Council, Oil and Gas Free Trade Zone Authority, Nigerian Export Promotion Council, the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria, among other stakeholders.

    Speaking at the Conference, the CGC noted that choosing the theme for this year’s celebration, ‘Customs, Engaging Traditional and New Partners with a Purpose,’ aligns with the service core objectives, as outlined in the three-point agenda of consolidation, innovation, and collaboration.

    According to him, the agenda has been the guiding principle,
    “Providing a framework for our actions over the past seven months, steering our customs activities under my administration.”

    He expressed the NCS’s commitment to fostering substantially improved relationships with compliant stakeholders in the new year.

    He said, “This year, we commit to fostering a substantially improved relationship with all of you, our stakeholders,
    especially those who respect our rules. We recognize that authentic partnerships are constructed on mutual respect and understanding.

    “Those who remain compliant and abide by the rules can anticipate a more streamlined and supportive collaboration.”

    Stating further, the CGC announced the launch of a Time Release Study in February 2024, “this is a comprehensive exercise aimed at optimizing our processes and reducing the time it takes for goods to be released in our ports and border stations.

    “This study is a scientific and strategic move towards enhancing our operations and I call upon the cooperation of all our partners, particularly those of you already organized under the framework of the National Trade Facilitation Committee, to actively participate in this endeavor.”

    In his keynote address, the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, emphasised the importance of collaboration in facilitating trade and improving revenue generation.

    “In this era of increased interdependence, Customs and its stakeholders must work hand in hand to ensure the overall success of initiatives that will help unlock the immense potential of collaboration and increase revenue generation, ” he stressed.

    He commended the leadership of the Nigeria Customs Service for streamlining its cargo clearance process.

    “At this juncture, let me commend the leadership of customs for agreeing to abandon the physical examination of cargoes at our ports and prioritizing the use of scanners. This development would not only increase revenue, but it will ensure ports efficiency and competitiveness. And it will reduce drastically the cargo turnaround time,” he stated.

    The Minister assured of his ministry’s support for collaborative engagements with stakeholders in the international trade community, aiming for a more sustainable use of Ocean and Coastal Resources for Economic Growth.

    The event also witnessed special recognition of internal and external stakeholders through awards made by the World Customs Organization Headquarters.

    Notable among recipients is the Public Relations Unit of the Nigeria Customs Service, the Caretaker group of the Nigeria Customs Broadcasting Network (NCBN) for rendering exceptional service to the International Customs Community, as well as officers and men of the service, who have, through their works and commitments, exemplified the spirit of collaboration and unity.

  • Customs CG Provides Strategies to meet 2024 Revenue Target

    Customs CG Provides Strategies to meet 2024 Revenue Target

    The Nigeria Customs Service has briefed the Revenue Mobilisation and Fiscal Commission (RMFC) on its various activities, procedures, and measures aimed at increasing revenue generation, fiscal efficiency, and blocking revenue leakages.

    Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC) Bashir Adewale Adeniyi made this known during a presentation on Wednesday, 24 January 2024, at the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission office in Abuja. He emphasized the need to build trust when collaborating with other government agencies to achieve objectives.

    The CGC, pleading for support from the commission and other agencies, revealed that since his appointment in 2023, the service has taken significant steps in revenue recovery and addressing areas of possible revenue leakages.

    He disclosed that there are agencies with legal provisions to stay at the port, and the NCS is actively collaborating with them to streamline processes, ensuring their presence doesn’t hinder trade facilitation.

    However, he clarified that the goal is not to assign blame but to reduce the time and cost of conducting business in ports. “Looking at the target of 5.1 trillion naira, every naira and kobo we can collect, block, remit is very important,” he emphasized.

    “In two weeks, a Time Release Study will be conducted in collaboration with the World Customs Organization (WCO) and other international partners to obtain a scientific study of clearing cargoes from the port.”

    The CGC also announced the upcoming launch of a revenue recovery exercise initiated in 2023, which recovered over 17 billion naira within four months. He assured that the service would implement lessons learned from the beginning of 2024, particularly strengthening the Post Clearance Audit (PCA) Unit.

    Addressing challenges, Assistant Comptroller-General of Customs in charge of Tariff and Trade Caroline Niagwan outlined issues contributing to the 2023 shortfall.
    In her paper presentation, Chief Superintendent of Customs (CSC) Ekanem Asuquo highlighted NCS’s core functions, the legal framework, and the need to calculate import duties accurately for proper payments.

    The Chairman of the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission, Alhaji Bello Shehu, emphasized the Commission’s role in monitoring NCS activities. He sought NCS support to recover funds, improve revenue mobilization, block leakages, and advise the administration on measures to increase revenue generation for the Federation.

    In collaboration with the Service, Alhaji Shehu expressed the Commission’s desire to investigate and recover unremitted funds, enhance training and manpower development, reduce non-compliant waivers, and participate in programs promoting revenue mobilization, such as retreats and workshops.