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Tag: NCS

  • Customs provides update on recruitment exercise

    Customs provides update on recruitment exercise

    Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) is set to release the names of successful candidates for final screening in the ongoing recruitment exercise.

    This is contained in a statement signed and released by DC Joseph Attah, Public Relations Officer for Comptroller-General of Customs.

    It will be recalled that following the outbreak of Coronavirus (COVID-19) early 2020, NCS recruitment exercise had to be suspended after the aptitude test.

    “Regrettably, the delay caused anxiety for the applicants, parents/guardians and indeed some members of the public who even went into overdrive with various allegations that tended to question the integrity of the exercise.

    “For the avoidance of doubt, recruitment into Nigeria Customs Service is and will remain strictly based on merit and principle of Federal Character, with every Local Government of the federation appropriately represented.

    “Since the Service does not know when the ravaging COVID-19 will end, Management has decided to forge ahead with the exercise while strictly adhering to the protocols.

    “Already a total of 3,500 successful candidates have been shortlisted and will be published in three (3) national dailies ie Sun, Daily Trust and Nation newspapers on Friday 12th February 2021.

    “In the interest of safety, screening will be held on zonal bases with the dates staggered according to grade levels and time allotted to states.

    “The whole idea is to get the recruitment exercise concluded without exposing the candidate to unnecessary risks. Only shortlisted candidates should go to the screening venue.

    “NCS therefore urges all candidates who will be coming for this screening to study the instructions and abide strictly to avoid instant disqualification and immediate eviction from the venue.

    “NCS calls on the public to be mindful of fraudsters who will see the invitation for screening as another opportunity to distort and misinform desperate job seekers. Any source other than the Service known platforms vis-à-vis www.customs.gov.ng, www.facebook.com/customsng, TV and Radio.

    “Especially those funny sources that will eventually request payment of money should be ignored. NCS recruitment process requires NO monetary payment of any kind.

    “While wishing all the candidates success, we appreciate the patient wait as a result of the covid-19 disruption,” the statement by the service reads.

  • NSCDC gets new commandant; Immigration, NCS to follow suit

    NSCDC gets new commandant; Immigration, NCS to follow suit

    Highest offices in some of Nigeria’s top paramilitary agencies on Monday witnessed major changes following tenure expiration of their helmsmen
    In the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, (NSCDC), Hilary Kelechi Madu, a Deputy Commandant General has been appointed Acting Commandant General of the corps.

    Madu took over from the former CG, Abdullahi Gana, whose extended tenure of six months expired today January 18.

    TheNewsGuru.com gathered that the changes came as a result of President Muhammadu Buhari’s warning to Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola not to grant any additional tenure extension to heads of the paramilitary agencies.

    Controller-General, Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS), Jaafaru Ahmed, and Comptroller-General, Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Muhammad Babandede have also reportedly concluded plans to resign and hand over their positions to their next in command.

    Recall that the federal government through Aregbesola had elongated their terms by six months

  • Customs generates N976.6bn revenue in 8 months

    The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has so far generated N976.6 billion revenue from January to August for the country.

    The document obtained from the service through its Public Relations Office by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday indicated that the sum was realised from import duties and excise duties, among others.

    The statistics showed that the NCS generated its highest revenue from import duty followed by the one gotten from the service’s Value Added Tax (VAT).

    From the document, NCS realised N471.7 billion from import duty trailed by the N216.4 billion generated from the Customs’ VAT.

    According to the statistics, the sum of N120.4 billion is generated from Non-Federation Accounts levies, while N84.3 billion is gotten from Federation Accounts levies.

    The document also showed that the sum of N76.9 billion was generated from excise duty and N6.6 billion was received from fees.

    Recall that the sum of N1.3 trillion was generated as revenue in 2019 by the NCS.

    Speaking on this development, Mr Promise Amahah, an economic expert commended Customs for generating such amount in spite the COVID-19 pandemic, which impacted negatively on the economy.

    Amahah said with what the NCS had generated in eight months, it would catch up or even surpass the N1.3 trillion revenue for 2019.

    The Comptroller-General of NCS, retired Col. Hameed Ali had assured the country of generating substantial revenue in spite of the COVID-19 pandemic.

    Ali was speaking while commending his officers and men for their resilience and commitment to duty during the challenging period of coronavirus.

    “Nigeria and indeed the world have been challenged with COVID-19, but we are still doing our best, there is no cause for alarm in terms of revenue generation,” Ali said.

  • Customs seizes 140 smuggled gas cylinders in Katsina

    The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Operations Unit, Zone B, has seized two trucks with 140 gas cylinders and 678 bags of NPK fertilisers being smuggled into the country from Niger Republic.

    Mr Mustapha Sarki-Kebbi, Zone B Controller who disclosed this to newsmen on Saturday in Katsina said that the three vehicles conveying the items were also seized.

    He said that the seizures were made a week ago along Jibia-Agangaro road in Jibia Local Government Area of the state.

    Sarki-Kebbi said that the country’s borders remained closed and any goods brought in through the borders would be apprehended.

    He said that the arrest was for security and safety reasons, adding that the cylinders were old and criminals could use them to kill people.

    The controller also said that the command arrested another truck carrying 678 bags of NPK fertilizers, which was banned from being imported into the country.

    According to him, criminals use NPK fertilizers to endanger people’s lives.

    Sarki-Kebbi added that the customs also seized 200 smuggled used tyres, 578 bags of foreign rice, 322 jerricans of vegetable oil, 90 bales of second-hand clothes and soap, among others.

    The controller said that the items had a Duty Paid Value of N185 million.

    According to him, the closure of the country’s borders would enhance local production.

  • Customs seizes smuggled rice worth N101.7m

    Customs seizes smuggled rice worth N101.7m

    The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has impounded about 1,160 bags of 50kg of foreign parboiled rice and five trucks used to convey them, in Edo.

    The rice and trucks worth N101.7 million were seized by the Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC) Strike Force in zone “C”.

    Zone “C” comprises Edo, Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, Cross Rivers, Akwa-Ibom, Imo, Abia, Enugu, Anambra and Ebonyi.

    At a media briefing in Benin on Tuesday, Mr Abdullahi Kirawa, the National Coordinator of the Strike Force, said that the seizure was achieved through intelligence reports from members of the public and Customs intelligence unit.

    Kirawa said that the seized bags of rice were concealed in five trucks.

    He said that the smuggling showed the level of desperation of perpetrators.

    “The NCS will not relent in ensuring that activities of smugglers are nipped in the bud,” the official said.

    He said that smugglers had introduced new ways of smuggling rice into the country, listing the ways to include concealing bags of rice in fuel tankers and GP tanks.

    Kirawa appealed to members of the public to see smuggling as an evil wind that would blow no good.

    He urged members of the public to help to expose smugglers.

     

  • Customs generates over N239.4bn in Q1 2017

    The Nigerian Customs Service, NCS, generated a total sum of N239.4bn in the first three months of this year, figures obtained from the Federal Ministry of Finance have revealed.

    The amount is contained in a document obtained by the newsmen on Monday in Abuja, showing the activities of the ministry of finance in the last two years.

    The NCS, according to the document, stated that its revenue performance for the first quarter of this year exceeded its target of N193.2bn.

    This, the service added, was achieved through a reform programme aimed at restructuring the agency, re-orientation of its officers, removing defects and adopting simplified procedures in its activities.

    “The NCS collected N904.07bn in 2015 against a target of N944.4bn; the total collection in 2016 was N898.67bn against the target amount of N973.3bn.

    “Between January and March 2017,the NCS was able to generate N239.4b, thereby exceeding the target of N193.22bn set for the period,” it said.

    The service also said it had complied with a Presidential directive to deliver all seized perishable goods to the Internally Displaced Persons affected by the insurgency in Borno, Yobe, Adamawa and Benin camps.

    It said the reforms embarked upon by the government has started yielding results as there is a strict compliance with rules governing the operations of the NCS, adding that a standard operating procedure has been developed to ensure transparency and accountability.

    The service also said it has strengthened international engagements with the World Customs Organisation and the World Trade Organisation for trade facilitation and optimum revenue collection.

    It added that a compliance team has been set up to ensure conformity with trade regulations adding that this would help to block all illegal routes for smuggling.

     

     

    NAN

  • NCS impounds 941 bags of rice worth N6.8m

    The Nigeria Customs Service, Western Marine Command, on Tuesday said its officers seized 941 bags of rice estimated at N6,830,791 being smuggled into the country.

    ImageFile: NCS impounds 941 bags of rice worth N6.8m
    NCS, Western impounds 941 bags of rice worth N6.8m

    The new Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Sarkin Kebbi, in Lagos said the seizure was barely a month after he assumed duty at the command.

    “As you are aware, I took over the helm of affairs in this command on Tuesday, 25th April, 2017.

    “My first official assignment was on the 27th April, 2017 where I led a team of inspectors from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture delegated by the Office of the National Security Adviser to inspect a vessel, MV TEAM TANGO, that was arrested.

    “The visit was embarked upon to take samples of cargo on board, PRILLED UREA, presumed to be used by terrorists to manufacture improvised explosive devices (IEDS).

    “The Western Marine Command is an enforcement unit and its main function is to protect the water-ways, fight insecurity and combat smuggling.

    “We have been able to make unprecedented seizures within 30 days in office across the South Western states and right up to Kebbi State in the Northern part of the country at different dates and times,” Kebbi said.

    The Customs controller said the achievement was borne out of the new approach to duty in the command by the officers and men.

    He said that the goal of the command was to ensure that the waterways were safe from unscrupulous businessmen and women, whose activities endanger national security.

    Kebbi said that realising the enormity of the task ahead, he intends to visit states, institutions and organisations within the command, in order to familiarise himself with the terrain and gather intelligence necessary for effective administration.

    “This commenced on Tuesday, 16th of May, 2017 in company of my principal officers to Badagry and Yekemeh Stations.

    “The tour extended to the paramount ruler of Badagry, Oba Akran of Badagry, as well as the Baale of Pashi, the head of Pashi community.

    “Both monarchs received us warmly and I expressed my gratitude to them for their fatherly love and care for the officers,’’ he said.

    Kebbi said that the task of nation building was a call to service, and therefore implored smugglers to change their business to legitimate ones.

    According to him, there will be no hiding place for them any longer.

  • NCS abolishes disparity between HND/BSc holders, pegs both on GL 08

    The Comptroller-General of Customs (rtd) Col. Hameed Ali, has announced that HND holders on salary Grade Level GL 07 in the service are automatically moved to salary GL 08 like their BSc. counterparts.

    Ali said this during the decoration of the newly promoted senior customs officers on Monday in Abuja.

    Nine officers were decorated – six of them Comptrollers; two Deputy Comptrollers and one Assistant Comptroller.

    Ali noted that officers in the inspectorate cadre on salary GL 08 and above were to align to the appropriate rank in the superintendent cadre.

    “This is expected to boost the morale of officers and eliminate confusion in the seniority of officers”, he said.

    Ali said that the service had promoted 3,487 senior officers.

    “From this moment things have changed therefore; you are now required to take up greater responsibilities.

    “All the promoted officers have worked hard to achieve this; in the past, officers were promoted when they are not supposed to.

    “Merit is the key to promotion; diligent and hard work is the key to success.

    “We have to get ‘godfathereeism’ out of Customs before we leave, ” Ali added.

    Ali said by June this year, officers would commence full training at the Customs Command, Gwagwalada, FCT.

     

  • NPA hails NCS on seizure of 661 AK 47 rifles

    NPA hails NCS on seizure of 661 AK 47 rifles

     

    The Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Ms Hadiza Usman, has commended the Comptroller-General of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Retired Col. Hameed Ali and his management team on seizure of 661 pump-action rifles.

    TheNewsGuru.com recalls that the Nigerian Customs had on January 30 intercepted a 40 ft container cleared to be containing steel doors but on close examination were loaded with 661 new pump-action rifles.

    Usman gave the commendation in a statement made available to newsmen on Sunday in Lagos by the Public Affairs Manager of NPA, Chief Michael Ajayi.

    According to her, the authority is particularly impressed with the fact that the controversial 40 ft container manifested to be carrying steel doors had actually exited the port before it was timely intercepted somewhere around Mile 2, Lagos.

    “This remarkably is a proof that the Customs management has put in place, more than one layer of security arrangement to ensure that nothing dangerous actually escapes the eagle-eye of a Customs Service.

    “Without this interception, the authority would rather not want to imagine what could have happened to the peace, lives and properties of innocent Nigerians,” Ajayi said.

    She, therefore, advised that the scope of investigation in respect of this deadly cargo should be broad and thorough.

    The managing director also urged all the security agencies serving in the ports to be extra-vigilant, to avoid a re-occurrence of such totally prohibited cargo entering and exiting the port.

    Usman, consequently, urged whistle blowers to avail themselves in future, of platforms already put in place by the Authority.

    According to her, this would ensure timely presentation of information and intelligence needed to enable the authorities nip in the bud, such acts of illegality.

     

  • NPA, NCS partner to create ‘single window’ at seaport

    NPA, NCS partner to create ‘single window’ at seaport

    The Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA has revealed it is partnering the Nigerian Customs Service, NCS to creating a ‘single window’ platform at the ports for smooth operations.

    This was revealed by the Managing Director of NPA, Hadiza Balla Usman when she recently paid a courtesy call to the Comptroller General of Customs, Hameed Ali in Abuja.

    Usman said the two agencies have embarked on the establishment of SW through an intense automation and introduction of Standard Operative Procedure (SOP) at the port.

    Usman noted further that the adoption of Single Window would make Nigerian ports competitive in the international trade network and boost trade facilitation programme of the government.

    The NPA boss further noted that the synergy on Single Window would boost government revenue and promote public private partnership through the attraction of local and foreign direct investment.

    She said government was aware of its responsibilities to create enabling business environment for businesses to thrive.

    In her words: “The goal of trade facilitation is to help trade across borders, import and export faster, cheaper and more predictably while ensuring its safety and security.

    “Trade facilitation focuses on simplifying and harmonizing formalities, procedures and the related exchange of information and documents between the various partners in a supply chain.”

    “I would therefore urge us not to lose track as well as relentless commitment as to meet the target of Nigeria joining 20 other countries to be in the forefront of implementing an efficient, effective and sustainable single window in 2020, ” Usman said.

    Responding, Customs Comptroller General Hameed Ali said Usman’s visit would lead to regular meetings and constant consultation between the two agencies.

    Ali explained that the NCS would “do everything possible” in promoting the trade facilitation programme of government through collaboration with sister agencies and through robust initiatives to promote business at ports.

    He promised the readiness of the NCS to work in partnership with the NPA to bring about a viable business environment in Nigerian ports.