Author: Folusho Adeogun.

Borno State Governor Babagana Umara Zulum visited the Comptroller General of Customs (CGC), Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, earlier today, Friday, August 16, 2024, to express gratitude for the Nigeria Customs Service’s continued support to the State in the aspect of trade facilitation and border security.

During the meeting, Governor Zulum acknowledged the strategic importance of Borno State, which shares borders with three countries. He emphasised the need for strategic collaboration to enhance security and trade within the State.

He further expressed his appreciation to the CGC and the Nigeria Customs Service for their unwavering support in addressing the unique challenges faced by Borno State. “We are grateful for the dedication and assistance the Nigeria Customs Service has provided to Borno State. Our borders with Cameroon, Chad, and Niger require robust management, and we are keen to strengthen our relationship with the Nigeria Customs Service to ensure the safety and prosperity of our state,” Governor Zulum stated.

In response, Comptroller General Adeniyi expressed his appreciation for Governor Zulum’s visit and reaffirmed the Nigeria Customs Service’s commitment to supporting Borno State. “We appreciate the support we have received from Borno State in carrying out our core responsibilities. The Customs Service is committed to enhancing and facilitating legitimate trade while ensuring the protection of our borders,” CGC Adeniyi assured.

The meeting concluded with Governor Zulum extending an invitation to the CGC to visit Borno State, emphasising the importance of building on the existing partnership between the state and the Nigeria Customs Service.

Muhammad Bashir.

In a remarkable event on Tuesday, 13 August 2024, at the Nigeria Customs Service Headquarters, the Comptroller General of Customs Bashir Adewale Adeniyi hands over the Vice-Chair of the WCO West and Central Africa Sub-Region to Mali’s Inspector-General of Customs, Amadou Konate.

The CGC emphasised that the sub-region serves as a platform for Customs Administrations to share experiences and develop lasting solutions to their common problems.

CGC Adeniyi also identified areas where the Nigeria Customs Service could assist the Malian Customs Administration in fulfilling its mandates, pledging mutual mentorship and support.

Speaking on the World Customs Organization (WCO) framework, Adeniyi explained, “The WCO is an umbrella body uniting over 184 Customs Administrations worldwide, led by an elected Secretary-General. Each of the six global regions has an elected Vice-Chair who assists the Secretary-General in the administrative structure.”

He continued, “The West African sub-region, comprising 24 Customs Administrations from West and Central Africa, is where we geographically belong.”

Adeniyi reiterated the Nigeria Customs Service’s commitment to revenue generation and supporting the national budget, aligning with the mandates of other Customs Administrations in the sub-region. He also emphasised the importance of trade facilitation and the role of Customs Administrations in implementing measures that enhance the trade environment.

Inspector-General Amadou Konate of the Malian Customs Administration expressed gratitude to CGC Adeniyi and his management team for their hospitality. He also expressed interest in building strong collaboration with the Nigeria Customs Service in areas of public interest.

Konate noted that the administrative structure of the Malian Customs Administration differs from that of the Nigeria Customs Service but welcomed the opportunity to learn from their experience.

Author: ucy Nyambi.

The Nigeria Customs Service, Apapa Area Command, has impounded 7 containers of cutlasses and machetes, frozen poultry products and expired pharmaceuticals worth N292.2 million.

Giving a breakdown of the seizures to newsmen on Friday, 19 July 2024, the Customs Area Controller (CAC) Comptroller Babatunde Olomu stated that the items fall short of the import prohibition guidelines.

He said, “On Thursday, 17 July 2024, the command seized 2x40ft containers carrying 12,000 pieces of cutlass and machete; 2x40ft carrying 4,129 packages of frozen poultry product; 1x40ft container carrying 368 jumbo bales of used second-hand clothing; and 1x40ft container of expired pharmaceuticals. The duty paid value (DPV) of these seized items stood at two hundred and ninety-two million, two hundred and forty-four thousand, eight hundred and fifty-seven naira (292,244,857.00).

“It is pertinent to note that this type of importation is against schedule 3 of the revised import prohibition list of the Common External Tariff (CET) and violates section 233 of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023.”

Comptroller Olomu disclosed that the seizures were made following a combination of intelligence and diligent enforcement in ensuring that no consignment exits Apapa Port or any terminal under the command without undergoing proper examination.

“As a working principle, I have reiterated that this command will continually sustain and improve on trade facilitation and maximum revenue collection without compromising the enforcement of our extant laws as they pertain to a false declaration, concealment, under declaration and undervaluation,” Olomu said.

Speaking on the importation of cutlasses and machetes, the CAC clarified that such items require an end-user certificate from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).

“Importations like this require an end-user certificate issued from the office of the National Security Adviser. There are security challenges, and one would want to ensure that the purpose for which these cutlasses are being brought in are the ones that satisfy the law,” the CAC clarified.

He reiterated the health implications of consuming foreign frozen poultry products, saying, “The consumption is harmful to health. Also, this particular one has been over one year since they packaged it, and it has expired. The government banned this because of health hazards and to encourage local products,” Olomu stated.

Speaking further, the CAC stated that the items would be handed over to the appropriate agencies for further investigation and regulatory action.

He restated the command’s commitment to ensuring that only consignments that meet the integrity test of compliance will be allowed to go through the port as import or export cargoes.