2019 Elections: Presidency Now Monitor Nigerian Bound Imports—-Customs Boss

By ZION Olalekan |

Even as the 2019 elections draw near, the Nigeria Customs Service has said that the Presidency itself now monitor cargo import emanating from around the globe and destined for Nigeria.

This is coming few weeks after a shipload of arms and ammunition enroute Nigeria was reportedly intercepted in South Africa.

Speaking at a stakeholders meeting in Apapa recently, Customs Area Controller in charge of Apapa command of Customs, Comptroller Abubakar Bashir said the presidency is now directly monitoring from the top how cargoes come into the country through customs.

Bashir admitted that customs officers are not infallible in cases of corruption and looking the other way while harmful imports pass through the ports. He however said that management of the service recently dismissed some Deputy Controllers of customs attached to the Tin Can Command over same allegation.

According to him, the affected officers allegedly released containers even when they were yet to arrive the port.

“Apart from agents and importers defaulting, customs officers also default. Some officers release cargoes even before their arrival at the port at Tin Can command, DCs were dismissed for this. Since we are taking action against our officers, you should not complain when we discipline you.

“Cargoes from certain companies and from certain routes around the globe are now being monitored, even by the presidency, as at this morning I had report of 34 containers.

“Unscrupulous elements go over the world to import cargoes that are dangerous to the lives of Nigerians”, he said.

Meanwhile, stakeholders at the command have demanded that overtime cargoes should be stemmed to bonded terminals across Lagos metropolis which according to them is currently lying fallow.

Zonal Coordinator of Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) Alfred Offorbike noted that this would further shore up the revenue profile of the command.

“We have noted terminals under Apapa command, and looking at the road now, it is hell coming to Apapa, it is difficult to come here.

“It is important to ensure that the cargo dwell time is not more than what it ought to be. The importer pays heavily after paying duty, I want you to look at how the bonded terminal under Apapa can be filled with cargo, and there is a lot of politics in that area.

“If you have paid your duty and customs have released your cargo but is still inside the port, you would be paying huge demurrage”

“Cargoes are being stemmed to bonded terminals that are not under Apapa command while binder terminals under Apapa are lying fallow, overtime cargoes have littered everywhere”.