* Canvasses Sole Administrator For Customs
* Says CG Is Incompetent
A former Customs Comptroller General has accused the incumbent, Alhaji Abdulahi Dikko of gross incompetence and embarking on frequent trips abroad to the detriment of his official assignment and the success of the Nigeria Customs Service.
The outbursts were contained in a five- page petition that was sent to the Task Force committee on Customs reforms which is currently saddled with the responsibility of reorganizing the service.
The former Customs boss (names withheld) categorically wrote that Dikko’s alleged incompetence became apparent and potentially dangerous given the influx of dangerous as well as sophisticated arms ammunitions into the country.
Underscoring the rising incompetence of Dikko, the petitioner observed that the arms and ammunition discoveries were made by agencies other than the Nigeria Customs Service which has the statutory responsibility for clearance, interception, detention and seizure of all such dangerous goods.
In the petition which was made available to our correspondent last week, the former Customs boss who canvassed that a Sole Administrator should be appointed for the Customs also laid the blame for the dwindling relevance of the Service on the shoulders of the incumbent CG.
“This development raises the question as to the competence of the Nigeria Customs Service in the performance of its statutory function of prevention and suppression of smuggling in order to guard against revenue loss and ensure security of the nation”, he lamented even as he called on the federal government to consider setting up of a high-powered presidential investigation team to unravel those behind the flurry of importation of arms, ammunitions and dangerous cargoes.
He also called for a critical investigation of the working of the Automated System for Customs Data ASYCUDA++ to uncover if indeed those goods were actually imported in the past and to who as well as their destinations.
In a direct assault on the Customs CG, writer submitted that the probe will be inconclusive if fundamental questions are not raised on the competence of the Comptroller General who oversees the functionality of Customs operations in the country. His numerous trips abroad leave much to be desired, it seems absolutely obvious that he is not in control. Therefore, he is not properly grounded which makes him change Comptrollers with reckless abandon….”
Not done yet, the former Customs CG argued that the alleged inefficiency of Dikko has made it “inevitable for the government to bring in a competent Sole Administrator to oversee the activities of Customs Service that the Comptroller General of Customs will be answerable to”.
Perhaps exposing his ulterior motive the petitioner offered to assist if called upon. “Considering my former position in the service, I know that the activities of the Comptroller General will not yield good results. Therefore, I advise the National Assembly and the Presidency to take urgent steps. I wouldn’t mind to give necessary assistance if called upon”, he concluded.
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