The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has condemned the 100% percent physical examination of cargoes at ports by officers of Nigeria Customs Service, saying that it poses significant corruption risks to port processes.
This verdict was contained in a final report of Corruption Risk Assessment conducted by the ICPC in six major Nigerian ports; Tin Can, Port Harcourt, Onne, Warri and Calabar ports, which was part of what was presented at a forum in Lagos yesterday by the chairman of ICPC, Mr. Ekpo Nta.
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has condemned the 100% percent physical examination of cargoes at ports by officers of Nigeria Customs Service, saying that it poses significant corruption risks to port processes.
This verdict was contained in a final report of Corruption Risk Assessment conducted by the ICPC in six major Nigerian ports; Tin Can, Port Harcourt, Onne, Warri and Calabar ports, which was part of what was presented at a forum in Lagos yesterday by the chairman of ICPC, Mr. Ekpo Nta.
The commission also frowned at the discretionary powers of the Customs as enshrined in its Customs and Excise Management Act (CEMA), saying that it naturally poses a potential risk of abuse and inefficiencies that may affect the performance of other port operations.
"Indeed, customs officials claim that wrongful practices of agents is the primary reason, 80% or more of cargo imported go through physical searches, a process which has been identified during this study to pose significant corruption risks in its operations", the commission said.
In the report, the ICPC also bemoaned the absence of an effective complaints mechanism to ensure compliance in both clearing agents and customs operations.
Hence, the ICPC has introduced a portal; Support Service Portal, which will enable it to interface with stakeholders in the maritime industry in other to identify and eradicate areas of corruption.
While speaking at a meeting to validate the report of the assessment at the Rockview Hotel in Apapa Lagos, Chairman of ICPC, Mr. Ekpo Nta stated that the primary objective for the exercise is to study the port environment and offer solutions to corruption prone processes.
The Support Service Portal is to be monitored by a service support committee which will be monitored by the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, even as the ICPC has said that this does not stop each parastatal from having its internal complaints mechanism.
The ICPC boss however assured that the process does not mean that the ICPC is trying to get itself involved in port clearing processes.
"Our primary objective for this exercise is to professionally study the seaport environment and offer solution, we are not here to carve a niche or compete for space with other agencies", he explained.
Continuing, he stated that: "Pursuant to the corrupt practices and other related Offenses Act 2000, our mandate is to provide a holistic methodology with significant emphasis on prevention"
Nta said that corruption-prone processes can be reduced in Nigeria as its being done in other advanced countries, but that there must be a holistic approach of enforcement, prevention and public education.
While presenting the report, the CRA officer Mr. Chibuzo Ekwekwuo said that the ICPC is introducing a process card to document the activities of each agencies operating in port environment.
"It will be a step- by-step description of what you need to do to reduce corruption in the clearing process, it will equally be linked to the tariff payable, there will be a synchronization to ensure that they don't contradict each other" he said.
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