Customs

The Eagle Has Landed

John Johnson

If there was any Customs deployment that received unanimous and overwhelming endorsement of stakeholders, it was that of Comptroller Yusuf Ibrahim Malanta.

The “revenue mobiliser” made a triumphant entry into the Apapa Command of the Nigeria Customs Service in February, 2021 as its new Area Controller.

The deployment of Malanta to the command was as unique as it was coincidental.

As a crack system man with solid ICT background, Malanta had few years ago at the same command, awed both his employers and stakeholders with his high capacity for revenue mobilisation and ingenuous knack for plugging revenue leakages.

As an ASYCUDA Project Manager(APM) at Apapa at that time, Malanta during this period, deployed his enormous knowledge of information technology to achieve twin purposes of plugging revenue leakages and revenue mobilisation.

During this period, the revenue profile of the command grew exponentially.

A dedicated and conscientious officer, Malanta was the invisible hands behind the record revenue hauls made by Apapa during his hay day as APM.

Despite his workaholic nature, Malanta also has a likeable visage which make him very accommodating and generally loved by officers and stakeholders in Apapa Command.

So it was like home coming for the likable officer when he was deployed to Apapa Command as its Area Controller.

Little wonder that he got an heroic reception from both the officers and stakeholders when he berthed at his old home as the landlord.

Like someone who knows Apapa Command like the back of his hand, it took the ICT Scion little or no time before he hit the ground running.

Barely three weeks into his tenure as the Area Controller, Malanta has shown the stuff he is made of when the Command made a huge tramadol seizure.

Seizures of tramadol are not alien to the command as his predecessor made similar gigantic interception of the banned substance few years ago.

But what made the seizure recorded by Malanta unique under three weeks of his stewardship was the manner he deployed intelligence to track down the illicit drug.

Using forensic techniques which he called forensic manifest management system, he was able to profile countries of origin into different risk categories to determine the propensity of each of these countries for illicit trade.

He gave a graphic description of how he tracked and intercepted the banned sustain ace, among other seizures worth about N223million.

“The intercepted container with NO. SEGU 1793504 was falsely declared as ceramic tiles.

“Upon 100% physical examination, 1000 cartons of ceramic tiles were loaded in front while 554 cartons of 120mg of Tramadol capsules were concealed at the back of the container and such consignments usually come from one port to another.

“If you look at the bill of lading, you’ll realize the container is coming from India then to Lome before arriving at Lagos port”

“Acting on manifest management system, we were able to track and intercept a container No. 1793504 manifested as ceramic tiles. Upon 100% physical examination to ascertain its true contents, it was found to contain 554 cartons of Tramadol capsules (120mg) concealed with 1000 cartons of ceramic tiles”.

He has also used this method to detect some infractions within the short period he assumed office, stating that nine and six containers were respectively detected to have infractions within his first and second week in office.

“Barely three weeks after I resumed duty, I came in with strong determination, zeal and commitment to ensure that the confidence and trust bestowed on me by the CGC is upheld not abused. In line with that, the command’s anti-smuggling architecture has been redesigned to suppress smuggling to the barest minimum.”

In as much as Malanta has a likable personality which made his a toast of most stakeholders, he nevertheless broods no tolerance for non- complaint importers and their agents.

He warned non- complaint traders and clearing agents to steer clear of Apapa command as he is no friend to such people.

He however assured members of the business community that the command will increase sensitization, enlightenment and robust stakeholders’ engagement for seamless operations, with a view to educating the public on the harmful and destructive nature of these illegal importations.

He further reiterated that the Command under his watch will not tolerate unlawful behavior from any importer or declarant.

The Comptroller noted that he came to the Command to modify some of its operational architecture to make it perform better, and be more productive and to boost its contribution to the national economy.

In as much as he wanted to be friendly and accommodating, Malanta vowed such attitude will not however made him to compromise his determination to boost the revenue generation of the command through ICT- driven detection of infractions and plugging of revenue leakages.

“The only way such insincere importers and freight forwarders can survive in the Command is to make true declarations in terms of classification of the goods, and its value, while ensuring that the content of the container is in consonance with what is in the Single Goods Declaration (SGD) as well as pay the appropriate duty on such goods”.

He said in order to reinvigorate the revenue machinery of the command for effective and efficient service delivery, he and his management team have put in place fresh measures to improve on the operations of the Command.

He therefore advised the trading public using the command to be compliant to all the extant rules on goods importation and clearance procedures if they hope to survive the clinical efficient capacity for detection of any infraction by the ICT Czar in town.

For the unrepentant non-conformist to the rules of the game, they had better steer clear of Apapa command because the new sheriff is in town.

Customs

Exclusive! Mass retirement hits Customs as 549 officers bow out of service in 2023

CGC, Ali

Break down; DCG( I), ACG (6),Comptrollers(30), DC(68) AC (110),CSC(133),SC (52),DSC(79) ,ASC1(58) ,ASC11(11),CA1(1)

Eyewitness reporter

A whirlwind of retirement has hit the Nigeria Customs Service as 549 officers of different cadres have been penciled down for statutory retirement in 2023,

In a circular no HRD/2022/13 sighted by our reporter, the breakdown of the affected officers shows that 1 DCG, 6 ACG, 30 Comptrollers, 68 Deputy Comptrollers, 110 Assistant Comptrollers, 133 Chief Superintendent of Customs, 52 Superintendent of Customs, 79 Deputy Superintendents, 58 Assistant Superintendent of Customs1, 11 Assistant Superintendent of CustomsII and 1 Customs AssistantI, were due for retirement in 2023.

According to the circular dated May 10th, 2022 with reference number NCS/ADM/EST/098/S.1 and signed by OM Agbara, Comptroller of Establishment for AG. Deputy Comptroller-General (HDR), the affected officers, who are being shipped out of the service on account of age or number of years in the service, are advised to proceed on three months pre-retirement leave, three months to the effective date of their retirement.

The circular titled list of Officers/men for statutory retirement in the year 2023” reads

”I am directed to forward the attached list on the above subject matter as pre-retirement notice to all affected officers.

” ln accordance with the Public service Rule (PSR) No. 100238 and Federal Government circular No.63216/S.i/X/T; CR 1,/2OO1/5 of 2O/O3/2OOl, all affected officers due for retirement in 2023 are to disengage from the active service and proceed on three (3)months pre-retirement leave, three months to the effective date of retirement.

” AII affected officers are to ensure compliance and forward their three months pre-retirement notice to the Comptroller-General

accordingly.

” Any observed error, omission, or legitimate complaints should be forwarded to the office of the Comptroller General of Customs through the Ag. Deputy Comptroller-General (HRD) on or before 30th June 2022.

” Zonal Coordinators, Area Controllers, and Unit Heads are requested to make the list available for circulation to all the affected officers in their respective Zones, Areas, and Units

Customs

Customs High Command interdicts officers over assault on Gov. Okonwa’s aide

Eyewitness reporter

The management of the Nigeria Customs Service has reacted to the viral video where a member of the roving team of the FOU Zone ‘C’ assaulted an unarmed civilian.

In the press statement signed by Timi Bomodi, the National Public Relations Officer of the service, the Customs High Command expressed outrage over the conduct of its officer and said the offending officer and other members of his team have been withdrawn from their patrol duties and placed under administrative investigation.

“The attention of the Nigeria Customs Service has been drawn to a video making the rounds on social media.

“In it, one of our officers was recorded assaulting an unarmed civilian.

“This action took place on the Benin – Agbor expressway on Saturday the 7th of May 2022 at about 5.00 pm.

“This officer and other members of that team from FOU Zone ‘C’ have since been withdrawn from patrol duties and are currently under administrative investigation at the NCS Zonal Headquarters Zone ‘C’ Port Harcourt.

“Officers of the Nigeria Customs Service have been trained to carry out their duties with dignity and respect, and are expected to display decorum in all their conduct at all times.

“Where they fail to carry out their brief as assigned, appropriate sanctions are applied to enforce discipline.

” The NCS would like to reassure the general public of its commitment to the welfare and safety of all citizens and frowns seriously at any act by its personnel capable of misrepresenting its corporate image.

“We ask that all law-abiding persons go about their activities without fear of intimidation or harassment as we work assiduously to bring closure to this unwholesome incident” the statement concluded.

In the viral video which has sparked public outrage, a Customs Officer attached to the roving team of the Custom’s FOU Zone C, was seen slapping a civilian identified as Samson Nwachukwu, an aide to the Governor of Delta State, Ifeanyi Okonwa, along Benin/ Agbor expressway Saturday, May 7th, 2022.

Customs

Drama as Customs officer slaps Gov Okowa’s aide along Benin/Agbor expressway (Video)

A mild drama ensured Saturday along Benin/ Agbor Expressway when a member of the Customs’ patrol team assaulted the Special Assistant to Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, Samson Nwachukwu, for an undisclosed reason

A Human rights activist, Harrison Gwamnishu, shared the video of the moment the customs officer slapped Mr. Samson Nwachukwu along the Benin/Agbor Expressway in the presence of his colleague and a military officer.