N1.5bn Petrol: Group Canvases Promotion of Customs Officers

ABIOLA Seun

As Fresh fact emerged on how the Federal Operations Unit (FOU), Zone A, Ikeja of the Nigeria Customs Service intercepted 50,000 Jerry cans of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) worth over N1.5bn in Ijofin, Ogun State last week, clearing agents operating at the nation’s seaports have called on the Comptroller-General of the service, Col. Hameed Ali (Rtd) to reward the officers with accelerated promotion.

It was gathered that the Rapid Response Team headed by Chief Superintendent of Customs, Jack Okpabi was responsible for the interception of the products in a creek in Ogun state.

According to a reliable source, the remarkable seizure were made by Okpabi and 10 other officers who went into the creeks in the middle of the night to intercept the products which was on the verge of being smuggled out of the country.

Mr Abdullahi Kirawa, Deputy Comptroller and National Coordinator, Comptroller General Strike Force was promoted by the former Comptroller General of the service, Abdullahi Dikko for his startling seizure of close to 10,000 bags of rice in one fell swoop in 2012 along the Seme/Badagry axis.

But, speaking to our correspondent, the Association of Nigerian Licenced Customs Agents (ANLCA) on Tuesday called for promotion of the officers involved in the seizure to encourage others.

The National Publicity Secretary of ANLCA, Joe Sanni said the promotion would serve as reward for hard work.

He said, “I support promotion for officers who have gone all out to combat smuggling and intercept these products. There should always be reward for hard work.”

“I think one way or the other if reward for officers who have done well to combat smuggling is instituted and that such reward awaits those who go to extra miles to ensure that they curb smuggling, I think it would to discourage compromises by officers and results will be achieved.”

In a separate chat, Ebenezer Banwo, a clearing agent at the Tin Can Island port also urged the Customs CG to encourage officers who put their lives on the line to make spectacular arrest.

Banwo who stated that the officers could have allowed themselves to be compromised and allowed the product leave the shores of the country said fine officers should be motivated.

He said, “They are super officers that needed to be rewarded with promotion and commendation to tell others that integrity pays.

“The officers should also be used as poster boys of the service because I learnt other security agencies compromised and had allowed the product to leave until the team came to stop it and intercepted it.”

He also said the service had not made such remarkable seizure in one fell swoop in the history of the service.

Making reference from the National Coordinator who was promoted by Former CGC, Dikko Abdulahi, Banwo enjoined Col. Ali (Rtd) to promote the officers for them to do more.

Recall that the Assistant Comptroller General of Customs, Aminu Dahiru and the Customs Area Controller of Zone A, Aliyu Mohammed said a report would be written to the CGC, for recommendation on officers who made the seizures.

“What I have to say is that on the side of officers a report has to be written and in this report we can create a kind of attention for them and we will explain how they have to set up surveillance, and other strategies to get this seizure but definitely this is not a small feat,” Dahiru said.

Corroborating the ACG, the CAC of the Unit, Comptroller Mohammed Aliyu was optimistic the Comptroller General of Customs could give officers involved automatic promotion.

“What I can tell my men is that they should guard these seizures and like the ACG said, we will write our recommendation and don’t be surprised the CGC can promote all of them,” he assured the officers.