Customs

Katsina Customs seizes goods worth N50.4m in one month

Eyewitness reporter

The Katsina Command of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) said it impounded contraband worth N50.379 million from smugglers in the past month.

The Acting Customs Area Comptroller, Alhaji Wada Chedi, said in a statement that the seizures included foreign rice, secondhand vehicles, and other contraband consumables.

“After careful analysis, we valued all the goods and properties seized with Duty Paid Value of N50, 378, 800,” Chedi said.

The Customs boss explained that the goods impounded included 486 bags of foreign rice of 50kg each, 197 jerry-cans of 25 litres vegetable oil, 98 bags of 50 kg foreign sugar, 304 cartons of foreign macaroni.

According to him, the vehicles seized included a Howo Tipper Truck, a Toyota Corolla, a Man Diesel Tipper 32240.

Also impounded were one Honda Accord EOD, one Volkswagen Passat, one Peugeot 504 and one Citroen Space Wagon Bus.

Chedi said that NCS would not relent in sensitizing the people against smuggling.

He said that the customs command would not relent in curbing smuggling in the area and assured that the government was ready to assist genuine business people with a necessary license for importation of goods into the country.

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.