Maritime
Reps Summon Customs Boss Over Remittances
The Comptroller-General of Customs, Alhaji Abdullahi Inde Dikko, has been summoned by the House of Representatives Committee on Public Accounts over remittances to the federation account between 2007and 2010.
The committee is currently investigating remittances by revenue generating agencies.
The House members were working on queries bordering on 2007 to 2010 remittances to the federation account.
The House Committee branded the customs service as a lawless service agency.
According to the committee, “The Comptroller-General, had ignored six invitations, must address some queries regarding remittances that the service ought to have made” .
The committee has however fixed Wednesday, April 10, as the date Dikko must appear before it, noting that failing to respond to sundry issues raised by the· office of the Auditor-General of the federation may not be welcome.
The members of the committee took time to lambast the CGC for his arrogance and insubordination. The chairman of the committee, Hon. Solomon Olanilekan, expressed dismay at what he called consistent failure of the customs boss to honour their invitation.
It was gathered that the customs CG traveled to Ghana, but however delegated Deputy Comptroller- General (DG), John Atte, to represent him at the scheduled meeting, a development that angered the House committee members.
A member of the committee said, “we are not happy, the CG cannot be above board. That he is controlling revenue and in charge of too much money does not make him above board”.
The House of Representatives are also probing the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) of the N5.6 billion, which the corporation spent yearly on oil pipeline protection in violation of the NSCDC Act.
The House resolution was taken through a motion moved by Hon. Robinson Uwak on the contract awarded by the NNPC for pipeline protection, a role that is statutorily allocated to the Nigerian security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
The three commuters comprises of Petroleum Resources (Down stream) Interior and National Security and Intelligence were mandated to investigate the matter and report to the whole House within four weeks.
According to Hon. Robinson Uwak, the NNPC spent N5.6 billion yearly on the. protection of oil pipelines in violation of the NSCDC Act, which empowers the corps to protect the pipelines in section 3(1) of the NSCDC it stated, “the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps shall maintains 24 hours surveillance over infrastructure, sites and projects of the federal, states and local government.
The NSCDC has the power to arrest without a warrant, detain, investigate and institute legal proceedings against any person who is reasonably suspected to have committed an offence under this Act, or is involved in any power transmission lines or, oil pipelines, Nigeria Postal Service (NIPOST) cables equipment, water board pipes and equipment vandalism.
Hon Uwak stated that the huge sums of money spent in servicing the pipeline contract could be invested in funding the NSCDC to enable it carry out its statutory functions, rather than giving it to a private firm in violation of the law”.
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.
