BY EGUONO ODJEGBA

The Comptroller General of Customs Strike Force Unit has continued to record high successes in its anti-smuggling operations and recovery of hundreds of millions of naira through diligent detection of import duty underpayments and undervaluation.

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File Photo: Senior Customs officers

Authoritative sources close to the Strike Force Unit who spoke to Vanguard Maritime Report on condition of anonymity hinted that between July and October 2018, the Unit recovered over N300million in value adjustment receipts, in addition to seizing various offensive consignments and other trade goods consignments in breach of the import guidelines and procedures, also roughly estimated at running into several hundred millions of naira.

Our sources hinted that although those affected by these positive checkmate to fiscal abuses are already looking for ways to blackmail and soil the integrity of the CG’s Strike Force and its operatives, our reporter gathered that Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service; Col. Hameed Ali (Rtd) who reportedly has strategies in place to monitor the conduct of his men in achieving total compliance while ensuring that they exhibit courteous behaviour and operate in the light of transparency and fair play, is said to remain on top of the game, not only to shield his men from unwarranted attacks, but also to ensure that its operations are devoid of frivolities and measured up to the highest possible  integrity and trade facilitation; while blocking leakages and recovering government revenues.

“I can tell you that this CG’s Strike Force is more than competent, transparent and dogged. I am sure that when he addresses the press soon on its recent accomplishments, the country will be shocked on the amount of revenue that would have been lost. Go and find out, you will even hear that those who have lost out big time in the game of shortchanging government are crying real bad and trying to tarnish the image of our operatives. Thank God we have a CG who monitors activities of his men and who is on top of his game to protect his officers from molestation and blackmail. Recoveries from underpayments and undervaluation are in their hundreds of millions of naira”, said one of our confidants, adding:

“This CG values trade facilitation and his officers cannot do otherwise; he has his eyes and ears everywhere. He has rapidly raised the standard of our inspection regime; both must run side by side. This is why Strike Force is not going to lower the standard for which it was established despite all manner of misinformation and attempts at blackmail. “

Attempts to speak with the National Coordinator of the Strike Force, Deputy Comptroller Abdullahi Kirawa were unsuccessful as he said “it is not time yet to address the press. When it is time, we will invite you. But be assured that we are committed and have taken the game to the next level, breaking down all the hitherto barriers. Our job is to mop-up leakages, we are doing that and nothing else matters.”

As he continues to superintend over the task force, especially at a time of national exigencies with growing security issues, youths drug addition, massive revenue leakages, the drive up to rejig and re-strengthen government policy compliance cannot be overemphasized, and that is what makes the CGC’s appointment of a tested, trusted, professionally mobile, intellectually sagacious and meticulous operative like Kirawa more profound.

In his last press briefing in July 2018, Kirawa said the Strike Force generated a whooping Four Hundred and Four Million, Seven Hundred and Twelve Thousand, Five Hundred Naira (N414, 712,500.00) within two months, from seizures of assortment of contraband and trade goods that violated the importation guidelines.

A total of eleven trailers of banned imported foreign rice were part of the seizure, including various types of automobiles, vegetable oil, fairly used clothing, shoes, unprocessed, sugar and classified woods and foreign frozen poultry products. Kirawa who disclosed above said the seized items leaked through the land borders, nationwide, vowing that the Nigeria Customs Service will continue to waste the wall chest of fund of the smugglers in the implementation of the federal government policy on rice ban through the land border.

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