Customs
Tanko decries outsourcing of Customs promotion examinations
–– urges management to leverage expertise of in-house trainers at customs training schools
Funso OLOJO
A renowned freight forwarder and a social crusader, Alhaji Ibrahim Tanko, has frowned at the common practice by the management of the Nigeria Customs Service to outsource its officers’ promotion examinations to outsiders.
Tanko, who condemned the practice and warned of its security implications, advised the agency to instead allow its two training schools in Lagos and Kano to handle such critical assignment.
Reviewing the just concluded customs promotion examinations held in Abuja recently, Tanko, who is the National Coordinator of the NAGAFF 100 percent Compliance team, said deploying the in-house customs examiners at these training schools will preserve the sanctity and professional integrity of the service.
Recalling with pain the excruciating experiences of some of the officers who took part in the recently conducted promotion examinations regarding logistics challenges, the social crusader believed such challenges could have been avoided if the exercise had been conducted in-house.
While certifying the competency and integrity of customs trainers in the training schools and how they are eminently qualified to handle such task, Tanko accused the external examiners who handle such exercise of taking undue advantage of the situation to enrich themselves at the expense of the hapless participating customs officers.
“It sounds absurd, especially to freight forwarders, that the recently concluded promotion examinations of officers in the Nigerian Customs Service are out-sourced to external contractors to manage, using computer-based tests(CBT).
“This practice has been an age-long practice by former CGs.
“However, just as the Customs fought courageously for the approval for the establishment of Nigeria Customs Service University, we honestly expect that you review, update and put to good use the Nigeria Customs Service training schools.
“The incumbent CGC, Adewale Adeniyi, must take charge and put measures in place to stamp out any form of corruption and also put an end to the outsourcing of the Customs officers’ promotion examinations.
“This is because some of the contractors are surely cashing in or trading on jobs that can be handled in-house!
“Recall how the former late CG Dikko took over the management of RAR, the risk assessment report, from Cotecna, transformed it into PAAR, Pre-arrival Assessment report and now we all are gaining from that singular innovation.
“It is mind-boggling and astonishing considering the security implications of outsourcing the conduct of such examinations.
“We that are in the field, on a daily basis, do come across intelligent and brilliant men and officers, why the outsourcing?
“Moreover, the Nigeria customs training schools are there. Are they not meant to train and retrain officers and men of the service?
“The commandants are officers of high caliber and high intellect. Why wouldn’t the customs use their training colleges and personnel to conduct the promotion examinations?
“The training colleges are well positioned to conduct such examinations, if not, they should be well equipped, even much more than the CBT centres.
” This is because the teachers and managers of the School are officers themselves, who are also trained, experienced, and vast in modern customs procedures and processes.
“This is against the excruciating circumstances where officers paid their way to Abuja, with little or no provisions for accommodation and feeding for many days, as long as the contractor keeps them.
“What we are saying herein is that the Nigeria customs training schools can be used instead.
“We therefore call on the Comptroller General to urgently review the process of these promotion examinations and rejig the entire process to reflect and restore the glory, prestige and name of the Nigeria Customs Service” Tanko pleaded.
While welcoming the approval of the Federal government for the establishment of the Customs University, Tanko urged the CGC Adeniyi to deploy the same zeal, commitment and passion that won the service government approval to pursue the review of the conduct of customs officers’ promotion examinations with a view to allowing customs in-house trainers to conduct the customs promotion examinations.
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Customs
Customs, WCO train officers in technology- driven border security
Funso OLOJO
In a bid to strengthen border security through innovative data-driven approaches, the World Customs Organization – Organisation Mondiale des Douanes (WCO), in collaboration with the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), concluded a five-day workshop on Friday, 6 December 2024, tagged “n-Ceen.”
The training, held at the Project Management Office of Trade Modernisation Project Office situated in the Service’s Management Quarters in Abuja, was aimed at equipping officers with skills in data gathering and analysis to enhance national security and enforcement operations.
Speaking at the closing ceremony, the Deputy Comptroller-General of Customs in charge of ICT/Modernisation, DCG Kikelomo Adeola, highlighted the strategic importance of the training in achieving the Service’s objectives.
According to her, “This training, organised in collaboration with the WCO, underscores the Comptroller-General of Customs’ commitment to secure our nation’s borders.
” No man is an island; we cannot achieve this in isolation. Collaboration, particularly with skilled personnel, is essential.”
DCG Adeola explained that the workshop provided officers with cutting-edge tools to protect lives and properties and also to proactively deploy interventions where most needed.
She also stated that the training will reduce risks, including mob actions against customs personnel.
The training was meticulously planned, with participants selected from various zones and units, including enforcement, intelligence, ICT, and investigations, to ensure continuity and the dissemination of expertise.
Jean Bigirimana, a WCO facilitator from Burundi, praised the NCS for embracing technology as a critical component of border security, explaining that, “the n-Ceen tool is designed to assist member countries in gathering intelligence and making informed decisions.”
“The n-Ceen application enables Customs administrations to collect and harmonise data, which can then be used to target high-risk cases effectively.
” During this workshop, we trained participants on the features and functionalities of n-Ceen, empowering them to apply this knowledge in their respective domains.” Bigirimana said.
Customs
From Cabin to the Cockpit
Customs
B’Odogwu, home-made customs trading platform, gains momentum at PTML
–— as more banks embrace local ICT platform
— PTML customs reaps revenue windfall
Funso OLOJO
B’Odogwu, an indigenous customs trading platform currently being test run at the Ports Terminal Multi services Limited(PTML) command of the Nigeria Customs Service, has gained a momentum in the command as more operators are embracing the new trading platform.
Already,17 banks have indicated their interests to sign on the platform to join the existing five banks currently hooked up to the trading platform.
In addition, the PTML Customs command has started to reap revenue windfall triggered by the new trading platform as it generated N44.9 billion in November, the highest monthly revenue ever generated in the history of the command.
An elated Area controller of the command, Comptroller Tenny Daniyan, said B’Odogwu trading platform has come to stay in the Command.
As a pilot command for the operation of the indigenous platform, Comptroller Daniyan advised stakeholders to embrace and rally round the new ICT platform as their own, adding that the command has parted ways with the old Customs platform NICIS11.
The Area Controller also debunked information alleging that four vessels have been unattended to at the PTML berth due to B’Odogwu failure is untrue.
He disclosed that the command met with some of the stakeholders earlier in the week where all issues bordering on the challenges experienced by agents were addressed and they were advised to engage the implementation team for further assistance
He added that to facilitate trade, the command has bent backwards by applying manual methods to process cargoes and has established interface with the terminal operator to accommodate port users that have made entries on the platform.
The Controller said most agents claiming inability to capture have not registered on the platform and urged them to come forward for capture to address any challenge.
The CAC said “B’Odogwu is a Nigerian baby that should be fed by Nigerians .
” We are weaning our baby from a foreign mother and I urge all Nigerians to support it.
“We are not going back to NICIS II. The use of NICIS II platform has come to an end in PTML as this is the position of the Service.
” We are aware that some of our agents are yet to be fully acquainted with the additional requirements that were not involved in NICIS II.
“As the problems come up, we are solving them.
“Note that the management has dispatched an implementation team here to ensure our stakeholders don’t suffer.
” We were disconnected from NICIS II three months ago and we have fully commenced implementation to grow our own teeth and serve the country better. We have left NICIS here in PTML.
“We are committed to get it right here before moving to Tin Can and other ports.
“Our turn around time for properly declared RoRo cargo is still two hours but this is dependent on compliance by the declarant.
“As a command, we will not sacrifice national security and revenue on the altar of trade facilitation.
” So far in November,292 bills of laden have been captured in November, 375 are yet to capture.
“As at today, Wednesday over 98 people have paid their duties under B’Odogwu platform as more banks are coming on board” he said
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Steven
August 25, 2024 at 6:09 pm
Oga ,don’t go there ,if the NCS promotion exams are handled by in house of those two training customs colleges ,the will compromise it.The will surely leak the promotion exams questions to their beloved or relatives and collect money from them.its better handled by external organisation whom we don’t even have access to or know,firget about the money mgt pays them for their services .