Maritime
Committee To Boost Customs Welfare Package
The Presidential Task force on Customs Reform says it will transform the welfare system of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS).
The chairman of the committee Dr. Ochi Adriniru said this recently in Lagos while on a tour of Apapa Customs Command. He said the committee would harmonise all existing reports on Customs reforms and come up with a blue print for implementation.
According to him, the challenges of risk management, Customs procedures and screening of cargoes are very critical in other to give a better risk management module for the service.
We recommend introduction of other modules in the cargo screening process whereby arms and other dangerous goods could be identified” Achiniru said, adding that Customs as a service that does valuation and classification, should be able to do this to a high degree. Adiniru said the committee would suggest a transition management process for the service to take over from the service providers by year 2011.
“We want Customs officers to be embedded in each location where service providers are” he said, noting that the committee would recommend theoretical and on the job trainings for officers and men of services. The committee’s chairman said, the committee would recommend better living standards for officers and men of the services saying that the official quarters at the border station were terrible.
He, however, commended the comptroller-general of Custom Alhaji Dikko Abdullahi, whom he described as “being so reform-oriented” and for imbibing all the suggestions the committee had been making.
In his address, the Comptroller, Apapa Customs command, Adbulkadir Azarema said the service had streamlined and harmonised car clearance procedures in line with the World Customs Organisation’s requirements to achieve the 48 hours cargo clearance time.
Azarema, who was represented by the deputy comptroller, Administration, Mahmoud Dalhatu said it took more than 48-hour to get goods out of the port because some importers had intention of short paying the duty.
He mentioned the challenges of risk management and said risk management had been an effective tool for monitoring all import and export transactions.
Azarema, however, explained that Port environment was littered with so many government agencies, adding that the average importer had to contend in dealing with all the agencies in clearing their goods.
“This situation is a major source of delay” the comptroller said, Azarema also told the members of the presidential taskforce command that men of the service had been trained on cargo screening techniques by Cotecna Destination Inspection Ltd.
He said the trained officers had become proficient in different aspects of screening procedures including operations and maintenance of scanners, systems operations and image analysis.
Cotecna is responsible for operating fixed and mobile scanners in Apapa port. The area comptroller said scanning had the advantage of speedy clearance of cargo out of the port, adding that larger volume of cargo could be handled per unit of time.
Azarema also said through scanning, there would be increase in revenue generation due to large volume of container handled.
He added that scanning combats smuggling by exposing the concealments.
The comptroller said scanning also simplified and harmonised customs clearance procedures in line with international best practices.
He explained that the training was also part of the capacity building and professionalism for Customs officers.
The Nigerian Navy Forward Operation Base (FOB), Badagry, says its gallant officers have rescued nine women from the hands of suspected human traffickers.
FOB said the suspects have been handed over to the National Agency for prohibition of Human trafficking in Person (NAPTIP) for prosecution.
This was disclosed to newsmen in a statement by the Base Information Officer, Litunent B. Awodeyi, in Lagos.
Awodeyi said the first interception of the women was during a stop and search operation by the Quick Response Team (QRT) of the Command in a boat traveling to mile 2 and Panshi Jetty in Lagos State were five women between the ages of 19 and 32 were rescued.
The statement further said four women were also rescued by QRT two days later in a boat along Tongeji Island in Badagry, with the ages of victims ranging from 19 to 24 years.
Awodeyi said the rescued suspects were under investigation in line with the 2016 Harmonised Standard Procedures on arrest.
Although the names of the suspects were not made public by FOB, it insisted that the operation reflects Navy’s dedication to combating human trafficking and ensuring a secure maritime environment in line with the Chief of Naval Staff’s strategic directive 2023 and 2026.
The directive, Awodeyi said, is aimed at promoting safety in Nigeria’s waters and the Gulf of Guinea (GOG).
The Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN), led by its President-General, Comrade Adewale Adeyanju, has announced plans to embark on a nationwide strike, if the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) fails to pay nine months of salary arrears owed its employees.
Adeyanju said the affected workers are members of MWUN, and accused CRFFN management of neglecting its financial responsibilities.
MWUN in a statement by its Head of Media, Comrade John Kennedy Ikemefuna, expressed deep dissatisfaction with the actions of the CRFFN’s Acting Registrar.
The statement noted that MWUN had exhausted all available options for negotiation, including issuing several ultimatums, but that the efforts were ignored by the management of CRFFN.
“The most recent attempt at mediation occurred in Abuja on September 18, 2024, yet no progress was made in resolving the matter”, it said.
The statement criticised CRFFN for disregarding a crucial resolution reached during the mediation meetings.
According to Ikemefuna, one of the resolutions stipulated that when funds become available to the CRFFN, the payment of employees’ salaries should be prioritis ed.
The statement further noted that CRFFN diverted available funds to conduct what it described as a “kangaroo” training programme for select staff members, leaving the issue of unpaid salaries unaddressed.
“This is a clear violation of the agreements reached”, it emphasised.
The Union said CRFFN’s actions have deepened the financial challenges faced by its members, hence MWUN expressed disappointment that, despite their willingness to cooperate with the CRFFN management, the regulatory body has continued to act in a manner that undermines the rights and welfare of its members.
The workers union, therefore, insisted that it would no longer tolerate the perceived impunity of the CRFFN and declared that if the outstanding nine months salary arrears are not paid, it would have no choice but to initiate a total withdrawal of its members from services.
“This action would impact key sectors of Nigeria’s maritime industry, including the Nigerian Ports Authority, dock labour, shipping and freight forwarding agencies, as well as seamen working across all ports, jetties, terminals, and oil and gas platforms”, Ikemefuna stated.
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Apapa Command, has thwarted a smuggling attempt of N1.1billion illicit drugs in four containers at Apapa Port.
The four seized containers were filled with narcotics valued at N1,183,915,500.
The Command’s Area Controller, Comptroller Babatunde Olomu, disclosed this to newsmen through its Public Relations Officer, Mr. Abubakar Usman.
The seizure involved 236,783 bottles of cough syrups containing codeine and Barcadin, packed in a total of 2,174 cartons from two terminals under the command’s jurisdiction.
Three other seizures were made at APM Terminals, while one was intercepted at Kachicares Bonded Terminal.
Comptroller Olomu explained that, “On October 11, 2024, during a joint inspection of a 1×40 container, number MRKU0377493, our officers discovered prohibited CSP cough syrup—34,800 bottles packed into 174 cartons, each containing 200 bottles.
“The shipment was expired at the time of interception”.
The statement said on the same day, another 1×40 container, number TGBU8886020, was found with 39,700 bottles of DSP cough syrup, packed in cartons containing 100 bottles each.
Additionally, a third container (TCKU6800526) examined on October 15, 2024, at APMT Terminal, labelled as containing essential goods, revealed 19 cartons of concealed CSJ cough syrup for throat and chest with codeine, packed in 200 bottles per carton.
Another major seizure was recorded on October 15, 2024, at Kachicares Resources Terminal: A 1×40FT container, number SUDU8579006, declared as containing kitchen wares, was found with a concealed stash of Barcadin cough syrup in 1,584 cartons, along with 83 loose bottles.
Comptroller Olomu described the seizures as part of the NCS’ zero-tolerance policy toward smuggling.
Apapa Command, he said, “is committed to efficient trade facilitation while maintaining strict controls on revenue collection and anti-smuggling activities.
”I urge those engaged in illegal trade to avoid Apapa Port. Our vigilant officers, using intelligence, technology, and experience, are poised to detect and intercept any smuggling attempts”.
He insisted that Codeine abuse has been linked to severe side effects, including drowsiness, confusion, and increased susceptibility to criminal behaviors.
“The Nigerian government banned the importation of codeine-containing cough syrups in 2018 after widespread misuse among youth”, he noted.
The Comptroller said further investigations are underway to identify and apprehend the individuals behind the smuggling attempts.
