Customs

Farinto calls for removal of Finance Minister —-says she lacks capacity to control Customs.

Eyewitness reporter

Kayode Farinto, the National Vice- President of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) has accused the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs Zainab Ahmed, of gross underperformance and lack of capacity to provide effective leadership to drive the economy.

Farinto, who is the Managing Director of Wealthy Honey Investment, lamented that the gap in the leadership of the Minister has led to the unrestrained impunity in the Nigeria Customs service which he accused of killing trade in Nigeria.

He, therefore, called for the replacement of the Minister with a technocrat who is well versed in fiscal economic policies and has the capacity to give effective leadership to the customs authority.

“We need to rejuvenate the Federal Ministry of Finance by appointing another technocrat to move our economy forward and we need an Honorable Minister of Finance that will be able to supervise and direct the new management team of Nigeria customs service to be reconstituted.

“The first panacea to revamp our economy is to appoint a vibrant and versatile economist as Honorable Minister of Finance because the present one lacks the ability to move our economy forward at post covid – 19 pandemic” Farinto declared.

He lamented that the timid nature and lack of capacity of the present Minister has created a demagogue in the customs who runs the Service with arrogant impunity without recourse to the supervising Minister.

Farinto, who was speaking in his office Friday, bemoaned the lack of professionalism in the Nigeria Customs service which he said has led to the gradual erosion of the legacy of late Abdullahi Dikko, whom he said enthroned the culture of professionalism during his tenure as the CGC.

The ANLCA chieftain claimed that the rating of the Nigeria Customs has nosed- dived under the current leadership which he accused of desecrating the trade facilitation role of the customs in its inordinate pursuit of revenue generation.

Zainab Ahmed, Minister of Finance

Farinto, while enumerating the numerous infractions under the current leadership of the service, blamed what he called the laid-back attitude of the supervising Minister whose words, he claimed, are not respected by the CGC.

He observed that as the supervising Minister and the chairman of the Customs’ Board, Mrs Zainab Ahmed does not exert the requisite authority on the Customs’management led by Col(rtd) Hameed Ali.

The customs broker lamented that this lack of control has led to the free, unchecked, and unrestrained reign of operational impunities in the customs.

“The economy of the country is sliding to abysmal level courtesy of NCS refusal to go professional. The issue of trade facilitation has been jettisoned while importers are continually being arm twisted to pay arbitrary demand notices on imported goods” Farinto noted.

“We are bleeding and this issue has gotten to a level that younger agents may resort to self-help should this extortion by Nigeria customs officers continue.

“The recent media seizures by the Nigeria customs service needs to be investigated. We now have what is called “Audio Seizures”, since they know the CGC is ignorant, you find some Comptollers calling press conferences for Audio Seizures, i.e seizures that never existed or repeating some seizure already shown to be public few years/ months back.

” This is not only uncustoms but a disservice to the nation which requires a probe panel.

“The Federal Ministry of Finance is shirking in its responsibility.

“The Honorable Minister of Finance has shirked her responsibility and has completely failed Nigerians. We have put up letters on several occasions to demand clarifications on certain issues as regard import guidelines and on these occasions, the ministry has failed to respond and where she does, is unable to put NCS on her toes to abide by extant laws, directives,

Hameed Ali, CGC

or policies of the Federal Government.”

Farinto however advised the government to immediately reverse the current dangerous trend in the customs by appointing a thoroughbred customs officer to head the Service which he said is presently bedeviled with uncustoms practices.

“The Federal Government must assist the economy if Nigeria will not be doomed economically, by appointing from the crop of intelligent young Comptrollers that will move the economy forward and not amongst these ones that have not only eaten the forbidden fruits but infected by the current leadership in power”

Customs

News Alert: Wale Adeniyi revives CG conference, holds 2023 edition December 13-15 in Lagos.

Wale Adeniyi, CGC

The Eyewitness Reporter

After 11 years of interregnum in the annual Comptroller General of Customs conference, Adewale Adeniyi, the Customs boss, has announced the rescucitation of the annual conference which holds December, this year.

In the social media broadcast, Adeniyi said he was delighted to announce that the 2023 CG Conference will hold from December 13th- 15th, 2023 at the Grand Africa Ballroom of the prestigious Continental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos.

The theme of this year’s conference, according to the CGC, is “Leveraging Data Analytics for Secure and Efficient Trade Facilitation in Customs Operations”.

The Vice President of Nigeria, Senator Kashim Shettima, is expected as the special guest of honour while the Governor of Lagos state, Mr Babajide Sanwo- Olu and the Minister of Finance and the coordinating minister of Economy, Wale Edun, are also expected to grace the occasion.

Adeniyi stated that this year’s conference will centre around the discussion on implementing new measures to enhance service operations, championing secure and efficient operations across the federation.

“In line with my efforts and that of my management team to modernize the Nigeria Customs service through leveraging technology-driven Customs to shape the future of our operations, I am inviting you to this year’s Comptroller General Conference scheduled for 13tg to 15th December 2023 at the Grand Ballroom, Continental Hotel, Lagos.

” The theme of this year’s conference is Leveraging Data Analytics for Secure and Efficient Trade Facilitation in Customs Service.

” We are embracing innovation, utilizing the power of analytics to ensure the security and efficiency of Customs Operations.

“This significant event will centre around discussion on implementing new measures to enhance the service operations, championing secure and efficient operations across the federation.

“It will serve as a platform for attracting new business stakeholders to our shore.

” Don’t miss this opportunity to be part of this renewed hope experience as we consolidate on the achievements of the past, collaborate with our stakeholders and of course, bring in innovation to drive Customs Operations.

“The conference will be graced by esteemed guests, including the Vice-President, Senator Kashim Shettima as the special guest of honour, the governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu and the Finance Minister, Wale Edun” the CGC announced.

The CG conference is a platform for interaction where customs reviews its past operations and project for the future.

The last conference was held in 2012 in Katsina state.

Customs

Adeniyi seeks Senate support to enhance Customs’ automation process

The Eyewitness Reporter

The Nigeria Customs Service has sought the intervention of the National Assembly Senate Committee on Customs to address its core needs by providing modern tools for the complete automation of its operations to enhance trade facilitation and revenue generation.

Comptroller-General of Customs Bashir Adewale Adeniyi made this plea on Tuesday, November 28, 2023, at the Senate Wing, National Assembly, Abuja. He emphasized that this call underscores the Customs Service’s commitment to fostering economic growth, job creation, and dynamic trade relations.

Regarding the Senate Committee’s interest in doubling the NCS’s efforts in revenue generation, CGC Adeniyi emphasized, “not only introducing them but also standardizing them to enhance Customs’ clearance processes, revenue generation, which will be a better experience for both Customs administration and stakeholders.”

He recalled the initiation of the automation process by the Nigeria Customs Service in the late 1990s when it purchased modern gadgets, including computers and software, as part of the Service’s efforts to introduce computerization processes.

Discussing the concession issue, CGC Bashir Adeniyi highlighted some of the objectives of the Nigeria Customs Service’s requests to automate its operations. “The first major objective of the consortium was to provide an end-to-end ICT platform to digitalize procedures and processes.

The second one is to look at the present infrastructure and update it in line with international standards, ranking amongst the best in the world.” He noted.

He explained that the third objective was to provide technology-based solutions to address challenges faced by the Service, emphasizing, “The last part is the general organization of our infrastructure to provide the tools needed that will be associated with these objectives, deliverables, and part of deliverables first is to build a Unified Customs Management System.”

CGC Adeniyi further explained to the committee members, “The system needs to process the traditions of goods that will provide electronic party systems for the Service whereby its entire processes would be automated.”

He added, “The conditions of the non-intrusive inspection system include provisions, revisions of cargo tracking systems, intelligent gates, new infrastructure, like a data center to build the capacity of officers because it is essential in the last phase of the project.”

Speaking on the Service’s strategic approach to enhancing trade and ensuring smooth businesses for local traders, CGC Adeniyi urged the Senators to actively support local business people in exporting items, emphasizing that such a perspective shift could significantly contribute to boosting Nigeria’s economy and play a pivotal role in job creation.

Responding to the Chairman Committee’s call on the Service to double efforts in revenue generation, CGC Adeniyi highlighted some measures that should be adopted to achieve giant strides. He added, “If we properly monitor the impact of these kinds of instruments, they do not represent an absolute loss to the economy.”

He also mentioned that adopting these measures would create jobs for Nigerians, enhance tax payments, attract investors, and rejuvenate industrial sectors, which, according to him, would not be a loss for the economy.

In response, Senator Muhammad Sani, the Chairman of the Committee, commended Adeniyi for the strides made in revenue generation.

Expressing optimism, Senator Sani asserted that the Nigeria Customs Service, with its recent revenue records, appeared poised to multiply its financial contributions—an imperative for the country given its current economic needs.

He said, “By encouraging a more balanced approach, the aim is to empower local businesses through increased attention to export initiatives, aligning with a broader vision for a sustainable economic landscape.”

A similar interactive session with the Procurement Committee from the House of Representatives shed light on the financial commitments of the Nigeria Customs Service. However, discussions were postponed to another date.

Customs

News Alert: Six Tin Can Customs officers reject $54,330 Tramadol bribe money

The Eyewitness Reporter

The Customs Area Controller of Tin Can Island Port Command, Comptroller Dera Nnadi, has commended the six officers of the command who refused to be compromised with the mouth-watering amount of $54,330( about N50 million) by drug dealers who tried to smuggle in a consignment of Tramadol through the Tin Can Island port.

While handing over the bribe money this Tuesday, November 28th, 2023, to the Lagos Zonal Commander of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) , Mr. Michael Wetkas, Comptroller Nnadi reiterated the zero tolerance for corruption stance of the Comptroller General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi.

The Tramadol was falsely declared as electrical appliances valued at over N856m with a view to concealing them while the cash was offered to compromise the customs officers.

Nnadi said the act was in clear violation of Section 233 of the Nigeria Customs Service Act (NCAA) 2023 and commended the officers who stood their grounds to work ethically and lawfully in the interest of national security

He further called for continuous compliance on the part of port users and reminded them that the NCS with the collaboration of sister agencies like EFCC will continue to frustrate criminal activities in the port

Nnadi thanked Comptroller Oloyede, who under his watch, this seizure was achieved and described him as a good example of the NCS.

He said the two suspects arrested in connection with the two containers are currently being investigated by the National Agency for Food Drug Administration and Control for possible prosecution.

Mr. Michael Wekas, while taking over the cash, described the feat as a victory for the country and for all the security agencies.

He specifically celebrated the officers of the NCS that achieved it.

Wetkas also lauded the Comptroller General for the letter of commendation in appreciation of the six customs officers who refused to bow to pressure and inducement from the owners of the illicit drugs.

He promised continued collaboration between the EFCC, NCS and sister agencies.

According to him, the era of working without collaboration is gone as the agencies now work closer