The Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Col. Ali Ibrahim (rtd) has expressed worries over the depleting revenues of the commands under the Western zone, particularly the flagship command; Apapa Area Command.
Customs Zonal Coordinator, Zone 'A' Compt. Charles Edike who embarked on a tour of the commands in Lagos on Tuesday expressed Ali's anxieties while addressing officers of the Apapa Customs.
Edike also said that the attention of the CG of Customs has been drawn to the impersonation of ranks by some officers under the zone, he said some are wearing fake ranks they are not entitled to.
He also said that the customs headquarters have noticed that many of the officers, especially the women are not properly dressed.
The customs boss noted that Apapa command has always been the flagship of customs in terms of revenue collection but express worries that the revenue have since decreased sharply.
Apapa Customs has monthly revenue for N30billion, but it has failed to meet its revenue in the past months. In September, it was only able to collect N23.3 billion as against the N30.1 billion revenue generated in August, representing a 23 per cent drop in revenue.
Edike charged the officers to ensure that every revenue is calculated and collected to the last detail, warning that the service will not tolerate any excuse for commands not meeting their target.
He however urged the officers to be careful with the trading publics, especially importers and clearing agents to ensure that cargoes are not delayed unnecessarily for pecuniary gains.
"You would have heard that last week I was here briefly and that was because the CGC called me and said 'Edike, bad news' I was wondering if anybody died, but he said the revenue, immediately I came here and discussed with the DCs, and immediately there was improvement"
"Let us collect every Kobo due to the government, but do not cheat anybody, the importers and the agents must be honoured, make them feel important, they are actually the bosses because the federal government is paying us to serve them and we must be seen to be serving them"
"If there is no fault in the declaration, you must allow that declaration go immediately, but if there is a fault or infraction, let them pay what is due to the Federal Government".
He charged the officers on honesty, fairness and to be just with the importers and the trading public. He also expressed optimism that the command can still meet its target for the year.
Edike tasked the officer to put in their best for the rest of the month and for the month of December in order to meet up their targets.
While reading the riot Act to officers putting on fake ranks, the Zonal Coordinator charged officers to wear their proper ranks in a manner approved by the board.
"If you are wearing one that is not approved, please remove it"
"The DCG I&I called me on my way here and said people must begin to dress better than we are dressed now, his attention was focused on the ladies, because of the extra luggage you are carrying on your hair, the beret cannot size you again" he said.
He charged the officers to shun wearing of disco shoes and wear boots approved by the board of the customs.
"And the ladies wearing trousers, we don't want you to wear trousers showing the outline of your body, this must not continue in a regimented organization like ours"
Edike had earlier visited the Lillypond terminal and is expect to continue the tour of the commands in subsequent days, to Tin Can Port and the PTML Commands.
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