The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Management has commended the Customs Controller, Tin-Can Island Port, Comptroller Bashar Yusuf for what it described as “Outstanding Diligence’’.
The commendation which came via a letter dated Oct. 20, 2016, was signed by the Deputy Comptroller-General, Enforcement, Investigation & Inspection and addressed to Comptroller Yusuf.
“ This commendation from the Customs Management was sequel to the recent handover of a suspected substance from a container belonging to Nigerite Nigeria Ltd. of Oba Akran Avenue, Ikeja.
“The container was among the other 17 containers but this particular one was picked because of the intelligence attached to it.
“ This intelligence was carefully followed until it was eventually discovered that there were eight black bags in the container that were not manifested,’’ the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) quotes the letter as saying.
NAN quotes the controller as saying that “the non-manifestation of the bags fuelled suspicion of foul play which necessitated the invitation of the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency for due diligence analysis, investigations and feedback’’.
Answering questions on what would become of Nigerite Ltd., since the Company is a beneficiary of Fast Track, the Controller said that “if a fast track company conceals or unmanifests product, appropriate sanctions will be applied’’.
He said the sanction include but not limited to removal from Fast Track opportunity for breach of trust.
The controller said there were other products that were manifested in the container, which was called “Virgin Cellulose Tasman’’ for manufacturers of cement.
Yusuf reiterated the statutory responsibilities of the service including the central inspection of cargo; revenue generation; and enforcement of the Federal Government’s fiscal policy in terms of trade.
He said that the Tin-Can Command of NCS had been re-positioned for greater efficiency and functionality in line with the Change mantra of the Federal Government and the Comptroller-General.
Yusuf said that he had put modalities in place for careful examination of all cargoes as well as scrutiny of all declarations using the parameters of acceptable standard.
He said that all the critical areas had been strengthened to ensure that standards were not compromised, adding that no infractions would be tolerated.
Speaking on his relationship with other sister agencies, the controller made it clear that all the Federal Government agencies must work together to move Nigeria forward.
He further said that cases of concealment and or outright non-declaration of goods should not be contemplated.
Yusuf said he would apply punitive measures in such situations to serve as deterrent to others.
On the letter of commendation from the Customs Management, he described it as “a call for more diligence, transparency and application of moral standards in the discharge of official functions’’.
The controller promised to sustain the tempo and improve on existing standards.
He, however, assured compliant importers and their agents of the support of the service at all times, adding that necessary steps would be taken to ensure facilitation of their legitimate trade.
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