Seme Border command of  Nigeria Customs Service (NCS)  has intercepted a total of 55,000 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) smuggled in 2,200×25 litres between 1st December 2017 to date, at Pashi-Yekeme community in Owode and the creeks.

The Customs Area Controller (CAC) of the command, Comptroller Aliyu Mohammed who disclosed this in a press briefing at Seme put the Duty Paid Value (DPV) of the seized product at over ten million naira (N10, 000,000).

Mohammed who noted that the smuggling of petroleum product in jericans had been a recurring decimal that customs operatives always nip in the bud being  the command’s modest contribution in ameliorating the suffering of Nigerian masses over the current shortage of the PMS products in the country.

” Today is another milestone in the history of Seme Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service, which afforded me the opportunity to showcase the command’s continued and relentless onslaught in combating the smuggling of petroleum products (In jericans of 25 litres and NOT trucks as widely speculated) through the creeks and illegal routes.

“The NCS (Seme border command) is certain and categorical to Nigerians that our operational norms does not allows trucks/tankers of petroleum products to cross the Nigeria territory either through the Seme main border nor its Owode-Apa Outstation. It is pertinent to note that the Owode-Apa Outstation is synonymous to every approved border post manned by all relevant Government security agencies (Nigeria Customs, Police, Immigration, Air force, Navy, DSS, SON, NAFDAC, Quarantine, Civil Defence, among others).

“This is because all loaded trucks with petroleum products meant for Seme axis are strictly monitored and documents provided are carefully scrutinized in order to avoid diversion/infractions, and to equally ensure that the products meant for the axis are actually discharged strictly at the approved filling station along Seme main border or Owode-Apa border communities.

“Our officers of the anti-bunkering unit are detailed to escort all loaded incoming trucks to ensure strict compliance in discharging the products to the border communities. Our surveillance becomes inevitable because Nigerians who resides along the borders have the right to be served with these products for their local economic activities, once the approved structures in the community and the documents of the products are verified to be approved to them by the DPR.

“However, the Seme border command keep patrolling the border to checkmate and ensure that the products discharged and sold to individuals who may be ‘greedy’ and always attempt smuggling it out through the creeks and illegal route at night are apprehended and seized”.

While assuring all Nigerians that the present leadership of the Nigeria Customs Service led by Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali Rtd was ready to bring all erring officers who circumvents government efforts to face the consequences of their actions once their operations was seen to be at abeyance or not in sync with their core mandates, he warned all smugglers and perpetrators of the illicit acts to desist from it or be made to face the full wrath of the law when caught as according to him,” others are currently being convicted”.

The Nigerian Shippers’ Council is set  to hold a one-day meeting with its stakeholders on the operations of the Kaduna Dry Port.

The meeting which is expected to focus on the processes of documentation of the Kaduna bound cargoes, obligations of Terminal operators and shipping companies, would hold January 25th 2018 at the Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos.

The meeting would equally look at the expected roles of other stakeholders in ensuring the smooth operations of the facility and how best to successfully operationalise the Kaduna Dry Port.

The Inland Ports being facilitated by the Nigerian Shippers’ Council is an intermodal terminal directly connected by road or rail to a seaport and operating as a centre for the shipment of the cargoes to inland destination.

Recall that President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari recently commissioned the Kaduna Inland Dry Port for the commencement of full operations at the Dry Port.

The 5000 TEU facility located on the Kachia Road in Kaduna gained its port status through official gazette having satisfied all requirements recommended by the Federal Ministry of Transportation and Nigerian Shippers’ Council in accordance with international best practices.

The Nigeria Customs Service has announced a promotion of three senior officers to the ranks of Deputy Controllers General (DCG) and Assistant Controllers General (ACG) as approved by the Controller General, Col. Hameed Ali.

A press release signed by Joseph Attah, spokesman for the customs disclosed that ACG Isa Talatu Mairo has been elevated to Acting DCG in charge of Tariff and Trade while Bukar Amajam, former Comptroller is elevated to Acting ACG Enforcement,Investigation and Inspection(EI&I)

David Elisha Chikan another Comptroller was promoted to Acting ACG Human Resources and Development.

The redeployed officers, according to the release are DCG Chidi Augustine who moves from Excise,Industrial Incentives and Free Trade Zone to Strategic Research and Policy(SR&P).

DCG Iferi Patience from SR&P to EI&I; ACG Sarki Umar Folashade from EI&I to to SR&P; ACG Fatade Adenrele moved from ZoneD headquarters to EI&I; ACG Enwereuzor moved from SR&P to Zone D headquarters and Azarema Ahmed from Coordinator of CGC Compliance Team to Federal Operations Unit Zone C Owerri

Others that were moved include Odibu Christopher former Controller Ikorodu Lighter Terminal to Controller Oyo Osun Command and Deputy Comptroller Adeniran J.O. moved from EI&I to Ikorodu Lighter Terminal.

Ali, according to the statement, “charged the affected officers to see their appointments and redeployments as opportunities to contribute their best towards consolidating the gains of the ongoing reforms in the service”

Following the involvement of President Muhammadu Buhari’s only son, Yusuf in a ghastly accident, during a power-bike racing on Tuesday, December 26,2017, facts have emerged on how Yusuf secretly acquired the two multi million naira bikes.

Reliable source at the presidency said that the two BMW power-bikes, cost a whopping sum of $157, 000, (56million naira) each from Germany were acquired secretly by Yusuf around June, 2017 at the instance of his friend, Bashir Gwandu.

Upon the purchase of the two power bikes, they were kept at Gwandu’s residence, located in Gwarinpa District, in the Bwari Local Government Area.

Yusuf, who is attached with three operatives from the Department of State Service (DSS) reportedly struck a deal with his security details, who allowed him to always sneak out in the night for racing at Gwandu’s place.

The operatives, against their pattern of operation and procedure of duty perpetually rolled out their daily reports without that aspect of Yusuf’s movement, the compromise that got President Buhari seriously infuriated.

It was learnt that the three operatives have since been shown out of the service. The affected operatives were first suspended indefinitely and later dismissed. Yusuf Buhari is still recuperating in hospital after the ghastly bike accident.

Federal Operations Unit, Zone ‘A’ of the Nigeria Customs Service, in its intensified anti-smuggling drive intercepted various contraband goods with Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N4,004,258,331.52 between January to December 2017.

The unit through its interventions recovered a total of N1,956,022,531.65 from duty payments and Demand Notices (DN) on general goods that tried to beat the system from seaports, airports and border stations through wrong classification, transfer of value, and shortchange in duty payment that are meant for the Federal Government of Nigeria. Making the cumulative figure recorded by the Unit in the year 2017 to total N5,960,280,863.00

A total of 179 suspects were arrested in connection to the 1,046 different seizures made within the period, which comprises of foreign parboiled rice, frozen poultry products, vegetable oil, smuggled vehicles, Indian hemp, arms, fake pharmaceutical/medicaments and various general merchandise.

According to the Unit boss, Comptroller Mohammed Uba Garba , ” despite the challenges in 2017, the Unit recorded the highest seizures and revenue so far in the history of Federal Operations Ikeja. He attributed the feat to the focused leadership of the Comptroller General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali (Rtd) and the entire Management team for their efforts in recognizing hard work and putting square pegs in square holes. “Without the Management motivation and necessary logistic supports, we won’t have achieved this feat within this period”

Similarly, Comptroller Uba while commending the commitment and diligence of the Officers and Men of the unit for thwarting the antics of some dare devil smugglers who used different methods to deceive the service, he charged his officers to be professional and diligent in performing their statutory responsibilities in the year 2018; most especially in the area of anti-smuggling operations by making sure all revenue linkages are blocked.

He enjoined all hands to be on deck in the fight against the economic saboteurs who meant no good for the economy.

He further added that smuggling is a global phenomenon, which cannot be curbed entirely, but can be brought to its barest minimum. The FOU helmsman appreciated all security and sister agencies like the Nigerian Army, Nigeria Police, NDLEA, NAFDAC, SON and others that rendered logistics support and cooperation towards winning the war against smuggling within the southwest zone.

He warned all intending smugglers and their accomplices to desist from such illegalities and invest their money in legitimate businesses, as the Unit has devised other operational modalities that will give them a run for their money and maximum losses, accosted with prosecution and jailed.

Comptroller Uba reminded that the Federal Government policy of banning the importation of Vehicles and Rice through the land borders is still inforce and that the Customs is ever ready and equipped to enforce these polices to the latter.

He as well thanked members of the Forth Estate of the Realm for their support and reportage in 2017, calling for their continuous partnership with the Service in the campaign against the evil of smuggling to the nation’s economy and provides necessary intelligence that could also assist the NCS do their job better in 2018 and beyond.

 

Comptroller General of Customs, Col Hameed Ibrahim Ali had overhauled the  Ant-Smuggling units/operations resulting in a total of 4, 492 with a duty paid value of N12, 777.321.405. With 207 suspects arrested.

The recently introduction of  e-auction process by  the Nigeria Customs Service was based on the need to eliminate abuses associated with manual process of the past. This is to ensure maximum revenue from the process while still providing equal opportunity to all interested Nigerians to log on to the e- auction portal and bid for any item they wish

This new invention has so far yielded positive results as the Service has  generated N272,115,366 from the auction of 646 vehicles under this  electronic auction scheme.

Image maker of the service, Joseph Attah, disclosed this in Lagos when he briefed newsmen on the activities of the service in 2017.

Attah said the e-auction regime eliminates the manual process of auctioning seizures in the past which was lacking in transparency  and did not yield maximum revenue for government.

”The portal is opened to all interested persons to bid between 12noon  Monday to 12noon Wednesday of every week. So far,646 number of vehicles have been won  with N272,115,366 generated as revenue for the Federal Government” he said.

He said customs will continue to be careful in handling goods at its warehouses so as not to be dragged into unnecessary litigation by claimants as a result of illegal disposal.

Attah said the service is meticulous with seizures management  as they are properly documented and kept in government warehouse or constructively warehoused (in the case of inflammable items) following which thorough investigations and compilations of case files are done,

He added that while perishable items such as frozen poultry products and other dangerous items are immediately destroyed , others have to wait for judicial process of court condemnation before they can be disposed off in line with the law.