From a recent report, the Nigerian Customs Service has been alive to its responsibilities; Emeka Mamah chronicles details of document.

A recent revenue review for a decade by the Nigeria Customs Service indicates that it has not wavered in one of its primary functions. Of the sum generated in the period, N2.58 trillion went directly into the Federation account, while a total of N 1.61Trillion went into non-federation account on behalf of other agencies of government. That is the summary of its performance in revenue generation in the period covering 2000-2011.

But for its anti-smuggling activities in the period, the fight the authorities tress its on, even as it promises tougher times ahead for smugglers. Not leaving any stone unturned, it has also continued to contribute to the nation’s economy being a veritable organ in fostering legitimate trade across international boundaries. That implies that it has been one major facilitator of the country’s international trade.

*Mr Dikko Abdullahi

In a recent report by the Service detailing its decade-long activities covering the year 2000 to May 2011, it rolled out details to show how it had made over N4 trillion into various government coffers.

In an apparent commitment to its revenue generating mandate, the Customs Department has reinforced its various enforcement organs to ensure that revenue leakages are plugged.

With a massive deployment of Information and Communications Technology ICT, in its various operations it has warmed up, to join a global community that will not be left behind in strengthening its reposition drive.

Hence, the authorities say they are conforming to world standards to ensure that all revenues genuinely accruing to government are only delivered but accurately delivered.

In that report, titled, Summary of Activities of The Nigeria Customs Service for the Period From Year 2000-2011(May), the Service said “ensured that compliance among officers and men of the service” was unprecedented in the period even as ensured its men were prepared in psychologically and materially empowered to deliver on their mandate.

To ensure that the officers an d men deliver responsively, the Customs High command stressed that it had motivated them by ensuring that those deserving of promotions were given the uplift, without any selective or discriminatory criteria.

Getting more committed to deal with saboteurs and economic crimes bordering on smuggling, the Customs announced that its resolve was total and the perpetrators had very few options as fall-back as it has re-enforced its capability to plug the holes, hitherto being daily opened by smugglers.

Daily, smugglers and their accomplices are said to have gone high-tech, manipulating and deploying even existing and legalised ICT packages to short change fellow individuals, corporate concerns and even government and its agencies

Given this recent sophistication with which smugglers and corporate kleptomaniacs fleece the totality of the national economy, Customs announced that it has further doubled its resolve and combat readiness to handle the situation, matching word with action.

This, it said has resulted in tremendous results. In apparent self- appraisal, the authorities stressed that: “Our anti-smuggling activities has continued unabated over the years in our bid to not only ensure the security of our nation but to also ensure compliance to fiscal policies of the government by the trading public. To this end, our anti-smuggling activities are not only limited our vast border lines/formations but have been extended to cover the nation’s sea ports and air ports”.

Although there no reports that the operational systems of the Service had been compromised, by fraudsters and manipulators, there reports that some unpatriotic individuals have up and doing to create an image of a non-performing regime, given the fact recent ports reform has curtailed the excesses of hoodlums and fake middlemen masquerading as ports operators.

In that period under review, this overwhelming performance, has resulted in seizures running into thousands . Summarily, the report noted that”… these anti-smuggling activities had resulted in a total number of 29,303 seizures, with a Duty Paid Value of N67,605,552,760.48 within the period”, it further highlighted.

The report further holds that the now well-structured Service is not daunted by the enormous challenges attempting to diminish its avowed commitment to meeting its targets and goals.

It lamented a paucity of funds to adequately maintain a service profile so demanding of its status. For instance, the report noted that “during the period, the Service received a total of N205,971,417,465,.73” as budgetary allocation, a far cry to what is desirable or necessary to keep the Service on track.

Notwithstanding, the flag is kept flying, believing that an intervention will soon see the organization meeting its obligations to its self and its numerous publics.

In spite of this numerous  budgetary allocations, to meet the needs of the Service,  Management has continued to be alive to to her responsibilities in the areas of provision of basic amenities necessaryto motivate officers and men” so as to brace of to the onerous task of  handling its specified briefs.

Management has been alive to its responsibilities notwithstanding the cbvious  dwindling allocation from Government as “provision of basic amenities, operational vehicles, barrack accommodation, procurement of working tools and payment of salaries and allowances in the last one year “have high on the cards, as reports indicate.

The Service though acknowledges that much that it was yet get to its promise land,  but it maintains that it would not look back in dealing with the issues before it.

Again, the limitations for Service, have not been swept under the carpet, the report further stressed that, “It is worthy of note that the inadequacy of budgetary allocations has resulted in the Service’s request for intervention funds to meet her needs, such as provision of salaries and allowances in the last one year.

In view of this, there is therefore the need for a better system of funding the Service other than the present 7 per cent Cost of collection which has proved to be inadequate”.

To further drive its point home and request  for a more manageable  resources to keep it sound and running well, it wishes that  an earlier call for Government’ further funding based on l 4 percent  FOB be considered in order to address its numerous financial short falls. That much was its prayer in that report.

Aligning with the tenets of his six point agenda, Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Alhaji Dikko Inde Abdullahi, spelt out in unequivocal terms that he would sanitize the system and ensure that the primary focus of the service which encompassed revenue generation and zero tolerance anti-smuggling activities were curtailed.

Dikko’s tenure, so applauded in some quarters for some reasonable in-roads in achieving the purported accolade has also been on the firing line, in what some have described as his unflinching stand against bending he rules to suit a few supposed acolytes.

Abuja Customs house is daily a host to many Nigerians and other nationals seeking one trade opportunity or the other but its occupants say Its management does not recognize attributes outside excellence.

In a recent position by the CGC, in which he was widely quoted by the media, he noted that he had from the on set of mounting the saddle  as going to be de-tribalised and patriotic, all in attempt to make the system responsive to its mandate.

The report further highlighted that its men who fall short of the demands of the organization have been hard hit various disciplinary measures , all in attempt to meet up with the corporate goal of the Service.