JobsNewsCorruption: Customs Dismiss Over 2,000 Officers-Hameed Ali

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In a bid to ensure zero tolerance for corruption, the Nigeria Customs Service (NSC), has dismissed over 2,000 officers in the last seven years for sharp practices in the course of their duties.

The Comptroller General of the organization Col. Hameed Ali (Rtd) disclosed this Thursday while reacting to a question on what he had been able to do to rid the service of corrupt officials at the 53rd Session of the State House Briefing organized by the Presidential Communications Team, at the State House, Abuja.

The Customs Comptroller General said the officers were dismissed for one form of misconduct and complicity or the other.

Ali said many of them were found guilty of short-changing the service in its revenue drive, especially on the duties that were supposed to be paid for imported vehicles.

He said some of those who had been sacked equally got prosecuted and jailed and added that it would serve as a deterrent to others and ensure discipline in the system.

 “We have sacked more officers than Customs has ever done. Over 2000 plus officers have been sacked.

“Some importers who engaged in sharp practices that impinged on the activities of the service had either been suspended or prosecuted.

“Some agents who are not transparent insisted that money be paid into their accounts to engage in sharp practices, stating that vehicle owners can do it on their own with the introduction of technology,” Ali said.

Col Ali said most vehicle owners were guilty of under-declaration as vehicles of the 2022 model were registered as 2015 in order not to pay the right duty.

On Nigerian-Benin borders, he said Benin borders the major problem: “We do not have the capacity and money to build fences. Donald Trump also realized that it is not sustainable. Between us and Niger, we have a perfect system. Where we have a problem in Benin. Smuggling is one of the oldest exploits. We can reduce it to the lowest minimum. That is why we are eager to deploy scanners at all entrances.

“The only way we can protect our borders is through huge investments in technology. That is the policy of the Nigerian government and that is what we are pursuing”.

The CG said Customs would acquire one more aircraft in addition to the two existing ones for monitoring the activities of lawbreakers around the borders.

“We have agreed on the constitution of what we call the Joint Border Patrol Team. Today, we have a conglomeration of the army, navy, air force, and all other security agencies that have come together under one roof to ensure the security of our borders.

“We have about four sectors from Cross River up to Yobe. Why we are not covering between Borno and part of Adamawa, is because it is still an operational area and therefore, the military has told us to keep off, they are handling those areas until they are secure, and we will not be able to go there.

 “So, we are working assiduously to make sure that we protect our borders and ensure that our citizens live in good tidings. We are doing the best way we can to make sure that our borders are protected.

“We work closely with the Navy. If we have any intelligence that has to do with them, we pass it to the Navy,” he said.

The CG appealed to Nigerians to understand the officers whenever they raid markets to seize foreign rice, saying that it is for the safety and good health of the citizens.

Ali expressed concerns that the service might face challenges in meeting its N3.019 revenue target for 2022, saying “We were given the target of 3.019 trillion for the year 2022. And I told you that we have so far collected 2.143 trillion. So, we are working towards making sure that we get to the target.

“I have also told you our challenges that some of the key areas that were factored into the N3.019 trillion were the collection of the telecommunication tax, which up till now we have not started. Also, the collection of the carbonated drinks tax, which we started in June or July… So, we did not start at the time we were supposed to start. And those figures ought to have added to the N3.019 trillion.

“But we’re working very assiduously to make sure that we block all that chances and see if we can, by the end of December report to Nigeria that we have been able to make the N3.019 trillion target.

“We don’t approve waivers. We implement waivers. We will streamline the regime of waivers,” he said.

The Customs boss, who said the service would realize at least $176 billion after the conclusion of the automation of its operations in a few years, added that NCS had so far collected and remitted the sum of N2.143 trillion into the government’s coffers.

He projected that Customs would need $3.5 billion to fully automate its operations and limit human interactions.

Col Ali said the cost of clearing cars rose because the service had deployed technology to determine the year and make of imported cars to avoid under-valuation.

“Imported cars are now being appropriately valued and requisite duties collected from importers.

“Where the clearing agents succeed at under-valuing vehicles and pay fewer duties, owners of such cars risk being arrested on the highways and made to pay the appropriate duties to the government’s coffers,” he said.

He added that seized items were also auctioned online, thereby boosting revenue by some percentage.

Ali revealed that perishable items were given to Internally Displaced Persons to alleviate their sufferings, while other foodstuffs like rice were handed over to the  Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management, and Social Development for proper coordination after approval by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Hassan Umar Shallpella (Regional Correspondent)

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