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Home arrow Business arrow Corruption: ICPC charges Customs on accountability

Corruption: ICPC charges Customs on accountability E-mail
Written by Godfrey Bivbere & Chinelo Enemuo   
Friday, 17 October 2008
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has charged the management of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) to make accountability their watch-word.
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CG Custom
Giving the charge in Lagos, Head of the ICPC Lagos Office , Barrister Akeem Lawal advised the Customs management to make probity, transparency and integrity their watch word.This was at the commencement of a six-day anti-corruption rallies in Customs Area Commands/formations in Lagos, organised by the Nigerian Licenced Customs Agents (NLCA) in collaboration with ICPC, Lagos.

According to him, “All sharp practices through which government has been losing colossal amount of money such as under and wrong declaration of goods , concealment of relevant data, forgery, nepotism, favouritism, flying containers etc have to give way for utmost transparency,” Akeem Bello said.

He noted that it is only by so doing that the much desired rapid economic development would take root in the country.

“No doubt, both the Ports and Customs Service represent a very important segment of the Nigerian economy. Nigerian economy being import-dependent with oil as its major foreign exchange earner, implies that both the Customs Command as well as the various Ports Authority have to be adequately and transparently managed in order to enable the government realize its much needed revenue target,” he said.

He stressed the need for all Nigerians to join hands together in the crusade as corruption is an ill-wind that does nobody any good.

Mr. Akeem Bello commended the effort by the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agent (ANLCA) adding that similar bodies should follow suit in sensitizing Nigerians on and against corruption as a means of checking its prevalence. 

Meanwhile, participants at the 3rd maritime stake holders forum, have singled out corruption as the major impediment against the realization of government objective for  reforming the ports. 

Speaking at the occasion, the chairman, Ports Industry Anti-Corruption Standing Committee, Mr. Valentine Usifo said that corruption which occurs in diverse forms has resulted in gross inefficiency of the ports and has subsequently barred the Nigerian ports from contributing meaningfully in the journey towards national development.

According to him, the Nigerian ports are substantial critical and virtually permanent vehicle for wealth creation, prosperity and economic development but unless corruption is minimized it would be impossible to achieve maximum impacts home or abroad. 

Also speaking at the occasion was Mr. Hakeem Lawal, representing the chairman of ICPC. In his remark, he said that corruption can only be removed from our system if not only government but also individuals work towards the actualisation of this objective. He also said that until corruption is flushed out of the system, we would continue to sing the same old song. 

He further reassured everyone that “ ICPC is willing and ready to partner with individuals and stakeholders in the fight against corruption” and advised everyone that the fight against corruption will only gain momentum if it starts at individual level.

Similarly, Mr. Ajayi, representing the Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), said there’s need for government to explore other areas for generating funds aside from oil. He also suggested disciplinary measures against defaulters in the ports.

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 1 Why?
Written by This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it , on 18-10-2008 03:20 , IP: 69.159.60.217
I will keep this very simple sir, 
my friend from Ghana and the Philipine can (send) ship things like cloths, small applyiances, even car from here and it will be cleared at the port and taken to the rercipient right at their home. All they need to do is sign neccessary papers. When are we going to let this happen in Nigeria? Not that I want Nigeria to become a dumping ground for goods from abroard, even sending some thing that will improve the living standard of family and friends is not possible when it come to Nigeria. Shipping agents here tells you that all they can do is ship it to Lagos or Porthacourt, you have to go and clear it yourself because they're (custome)impossible to deal with. 
If Ghana and other people can do it,why not Nigeria?
 2 Corruption Incorperated Policies
Written by Eze China, on 18-10-2008 06:46 , IP: 211.136.199.85
One bad turn deserves another. 
Clearing agents are now experiencing difficult times, due to lack of goods to clear at Nigerian ports. Hence their protest argainst corruption. 
When the government was banning every commodity one can think of, they didn't bother to talk nor even to advise the government not to. 
Why shouldn't there be corruption in the customs? When the government banned the importation of all products on earth, while we produce none. 
No.Let them ban everything and also expect to generate revenues from imports. Revenues from their imported ghost? 
That's the usual problem in Nigeria. All Offices only care about their on self. And less or nothing about the public. 
 
If, as our industries are dead, these goods we don't produce are free for importation with low Duty, no importer would like to take the risk of smuggling goods in to the country. And thereby avoid paying Duties to our Government. Rather they pay the duties to our neighboring countries and Customs. 
It doesn't help anybody to ban any essential commodity. The government and Clearing agents are losing. 
Customs, knowing what people need, will surely let the essential comodities into the country because of thier humanity. 
And you don't expect them to go hungry on duty. As the ports are idle, with less revenue generation, it is possible that Customs will receive their salaries in heaven. 
However, the main problem is the government. They lack administrative knownledge, accountabilty and communication. 
You can't employ a soldier to manage commerce and industry, a lawyer in Defence ministry. It won't work. 
You can't demolish an old resident biulding without setting up a new building for the residents to move into before destroying the old one. 
These only happens in Nigeria. Where "Joe the plumber" is made the Governor of the Central Bank.
 
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