Ports: ICPC moves to check abuse, dispatches 69 risk assessors

CALEB AYANSINA

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other-Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has said that it has concluded arrangement to deploy about 69 corruption risk assessors to the nation’s ports to checkmate import and export scandals.

The assessors, who will be deployed particularly at the Nigeria Customs Service posts, had recently concluded a course on prevention of all kinds of abuse in the conduct of official business.

The chairman of ICPC, Mr. Ekpo Nta, stated this in Abuja during a courtesy call on him by the leadership of the Standards Organisation of Nigeria led by its Director-General, Dr. Joseph Odumodu.

Vanguard gathered that the Commission’s Director of Education will be leading the team. When fully operational, they have the mandate of tackling the menace of unbridled importation of sub-standard products into the country.

Speaking further, the ICPC boss challenged SON to set manufacturing standards for foreign companies who intend to produce goods in the country, saying such standards would make it a punishable offence for any of the firms which compromise on its quality and standards.

He said, “What we cannot export to other countries, we keep our shops wide open. The concern being raised by SON actually comes to us. Incidentally, I was in Calabar last week to attend the graduation ceremony of 69 corruption risk assessors that have been trained for the first time in this part of the world. It is convergence of idea that we have already started work on.

“Your agency is one of those that we will work with as well as the Customs, Plant Quarantine, Immigration and others involved in the import-export regime. You can’t take any fruit into Israel as I speak to you, yet everything can come into my country.

“So, we are going right down into such levels for Immigration and everyone occupying space at the Nigerian Ports; we want to find out how these things are coming in and what quality in terms of corruption risk assessment. It is not our function to go and look at quality, that is your responsibility. That is why we are going to have somebody from your agency, collaborating with that team.” Nta said it has become increasingly clear that stakeholders must work together to fight all forms of corruption in the society.