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Tag: Nigerian Customs Service

  • Customs give fresh details on officer who died at National Assembly

    Customs give fresh details on officer who died at National Assembly

    The Nigerian Customs Service has disclosed that the late officer who slumped during an investigative hearing at the National Assembly showed signs of discomfort, which eventually led to his death.

    The Customs Service made this known shortly after the unfortunate death of Deputy Comptroller Etop Andrew Essien, who served as the Deputy Comptroller in charge of Revenue in the Account Unit of the service.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) earlier reported that Essien slumped and died at about 1 pm on Tuesday.

    The Customs Service clarified that the officer died while presenting a management report on the ground before the National Assembly House Committee on Public Accounts.

    The Service said, “During his presentation, approximately three minutes in, Deputy Comptroller Essien requested water and showed signs of discomfort. Despite immediate efforts to assist him, he unfortunately passed away.”

    The deceased, born on November 16, 1967, joined the Service on November 27, 1989, with over three decades of service to the nation.

    The statement read partly, “Hailing from Nsit-Ubium in Akwa Ibom State, he was known for his diligence and exceptional service record in the Accounts Unit.

    “His role as the DC Revenue was pivotal in ensuring the accurate reconciliation of revenue, which he performed with utmost precision and dedication.

    “The Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR, On behalf of the entire officers and men of the Nigeria Customs Service, extends heartfelt condolences to the family of Deputy Comptroller Essien.

    “The loss of such a dedicated and valued team member is deeply felt across the Service. We are committed to supporting and assisting his family and colleagues as they navigate this difficult period.”

    CGC Adeniyi said, “Our thoughts are with his family, friends, and all who had the privilege of knowing and working with him. His exemplary service and unwavering commitment to duty will be remembered and cherished by the entire NCS community.

    “The Nigeria Customs Service will forever remember Deputy Comptroller Essien for his outstanding contributions, his exemplary service, and his dedication to the nation. We honour his memory, and his legacy will continue to inspire us all.”

    “Deputy Comptroller Essien is survived by his loving wife and children. May his soul rest in perfect peace.”

  • Several feared dead after stampede at Customs office in Lagos

    Several feared dead after stampede at Customs office in Lagos

    Adewale Adeniyi the Comptroller General of Customs, had announced that the distribution of seized food items would commence on Friday the 23rd of February.

    The requirements for collection of the rice was, National Identification Number (NIN) and the sum of N10,000 for half bag of rice, however customs later removed the fee and started sharing the rice for free.

    Many rushed to the Customs office at Yaba with hopes to secure their share of the rice, however due to the amount of people present a stampede ensued and several people have been reported feared dead.

    There are reports that some people were trampled upon as well as a pregnant woman being pushed into the gutter.

    A man when interviewed by newsmen, stated that he had witnessed people fainting and being trampled on, “I meet like more than fifty people for my front, as an old man I have six children at home and I don’t have any food at home, as I heard they are sharing rice I said whether na die or live, I must take something to my house” he said.

    A man was reported to have been stamped on after falling at the customs office when trying to secure rice, when he fell he couldn’t get any help standing up and he died when he was rushed to the hospital for medical attention.

  • Customs in Oyo/Osun seizes contrabands worth N454.2m in 2023

    Customs in Oyo/Osun seizes contrabands worth N454.2m in 2023

    Oyo/Osun Customs Area Command says the total Duty Paid Value (DPV) of the contraband goods seized by the command in 2023 stood at N454.24 million.

    The Command’s Area Controller, Dr Ben Oramalugo disclosed this while briefing newsmen on the successes recorded by the command in 2023 and part of 2024.

    Oramalugo further said that a total of N71.292 billion was generated as revenue in 2023.

    He said the seizure items are 88 sacks and 349 wraps of Canabis Sativa, 4,039 kegs of petrol, 9,595 bags of 50kg foreign rice and 35 units of used vehicles.

    Others are 177 bales and 13 sacks of second hand clothing, 3,702 pieces of uses tyres and 100 pieces of uncut timber.

    He said that the commitment of the command in combating smuggling activities remained unwavering and would continue to intensify efforts at curbing illicit trade, safeguarding national security and protect local industries from unfair competition.

    “With the use of coordinated border management, intelligence-driven risk management and continuous enforcement operations, we conducted numerous successful patrol operations that led to interception and seizure of many contraband goods.

    “The milestone recorded by the command was made possible through timely sharing of credible intelligence and synergy between all units of Nigeria Customs Service resident with Oyo/Osun states and other security agencies,” he said.

    Oramalugo said that the command was committed to build on the successes of 2023 and address the challenges encounter during the period with renewed vigour.

    He said that the command would further strengthen collaboration with other law enforcement agencies, traditional rulers, residents and other stakeholders in suppressing smuggling in the command.

    He further said that the seizure made by the command between Jan.1 to 18, 2024 includes 70 bags of 50kg of foreign rice, 3,325 littres of petrol, 100 prices of timber and one unit of motor vehicle.

    Oramalugo said that it was prohibited to export raw timber and that the command would continue to ensure smugglers of prohibited items don’t have their way.

    He further called on smugglers and those dealing in drug to shun the act for the future of the younger generation and the country at large.

    Oramalugo expressed his gratitude to the NCS Comptroller General, Bashir Adeniyi and his management team for their continuous support to the command which led to the realisation of the set objective and enhance performance by the command.

  • Court restrains FG over disputed e-Customs Concession Project

    Court restrains FG over disputed e-Customs Concession Project

    A Federal High Court in Abuja has restrained the Federal government from enforcing or giving effect to the controversial Customs Modernisation Project otherwise known as e- Custom allegedly executed by its agents on May 30, 2022.

     

    The agents who allegedly executed the disputed concession project are the Nigerian Customs Service, Trade Modernisation Project limited, Huawei Technologies Company Nigeria Limited and African Finance Corporation.

     

    The court also issued an order of interim injunction against the Federal government or its agents acting through the Federal Executive Council FEC from retrospectively ratifying the decisions to concession the Custom Modernisation Project also known as the e- custom project to the Trade Modernisation Project limited, Huawei Technologies Company limited and African Finance Corporation.

     

    The restraining order issued by Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Abuja division of the court shall last till the hearing and the determination of a suit brought against the Federal Government by two aggrieved companies.

     

    An enroll order issued by the court dated June 17, 2022, is signed by Justice Inyang Eden Ekwo and sighted by our correspondent.

     

    The two aggrieved companies are, E-Customs HC Project Limited and Bionica Technologies ( (West Africa) Limited which jointly challenged the alleged unlawful and fraudulent concession of the e-custom project to African Finance Corporation.

     

    Counsel to the two aggrieved companies, Mr Anone Usman had on behalf of the two plaintiff’s argued an ex-parte application in which he prayed the Federal High Court for interim orders against the defendants to protect the interest of his clients.

     

    Justice Inyang Ekwo while ruling on the ex-parte application granted the prayers of the plaintiffs having placed sufficient evidence of interest in the concession project.

     

    The Judge also granted permission to the aggrieved companies to serve a Writ of Summons and all other processes on the African Finance Corporation at its head office, located Ikoyi, Lagos through DHL courier services.

     

    Defendants in the suit are the Federal government of Nigeria, Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Finance Minister, Infrastructure Regulatory Concession Commission, (IRCC) Nigeria Custom Service, Trade Modernization Project limited , Huawei Technologies limited, African Finance Corporation and Bergman Security Consultant and Supply limited as 1st to 9th defendants respectively.

     

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports that Justice Ekwo subsequently fixed June 28 for hearing in the matter.

    Court

     

    In their statement of claims, the two plaintiffs narrated how they proposed to carry out Custom Modernisation Project through several government officials for the benefit of the Nigerian Customs Service.

     

    They claimed that after a series of meetings and negotiations with some of the defendants, President Mohammudu Buhari granted anticipatory approval for the e- custom Project.

     

    They avered that on September 2, 2020, the Minister of Finance presented a memo with the number EC2020/153 to the Federal Executive Council, the highest decision-making body of the federal government and secured approval for the two plaintiffs to be granted the award of the concession.

     

    Plaintiffs further claimed that trouble started when the Nigeria Customs Service unilaterally reviewed the Federal Executive Council approval and imposed other conditions among which are shareholding formulae and governance structure on them.

     

    They claimed that the power of the Nigeria Customs Service to unilaterally review FEC approval was protested and that the Comptroller General of the agency stood his ground.

     

    Plaintiff asserted that to their surprise, they read in the news that the Nigeria Customs Service had executed a concession agreement with the Trade Modernisation Project on May 30, 2022, with Huawei Technologies Company and African Finance Corporation in total breach of the Concession Agreement vetted by the AGF in conjunction with the Minister of Finance.

     

    They avered that Tade Modernisation Project Limited was incorporated in April 2022 at the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) with one Alhaji Saleh Ahmadu a close friend of the Comptroller General as the Chairman.

     

    Plaintiff asserted that the new company, having been just incorporated in April 2022 could not have obtained and did not obtain the full business case compliance certificate from the Infrastructure Regulatory Concession Commission IRCC and the approval of the Federal Executive Council to carry out e- custom project.

     

    They, therefore, asked the court to make a declaration that the decisions of the federal government and its agent to enter into a concession agreement with Trade Modernisation Project Limited, Huaewai Technologies Company and African Finance Corporation in respect of the e-customs project is illegal, null and void, having been made in gross violation of Section 2 of the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission Act 2005.

     

    They also asked the court to declare that e-Customs HC Project limited is the approved and rightful concessionaire for the e-customs project as approved by the Federal Executive Council at its meeting on September 2, 2020, and in line with Section 2 of the Infrastructure Regulatory Concession Commission Act.

     

    They also applied for an order of the court directing the Federal Government through AGF, Finance Minister, IRCC and Customs to consulate the e- custom project with the 1st plaintiff, (E-Customs Project Limited) as approved by FEC in its September 2020 meeting.

     

    Besides, the two plaintiffs asked the court to compel the defendants to pay them a sum of two hundred million naira (N200M) as the cost of litigation.

  • Nigerian Customs impound over 1000 bags of poisonous rice

    Nigerian Customs impound over 1000 bags of poisonous rice

    Men of the Nigerian Customs Service have confiscated over 1000 bags of poisonous rice in Ogun State, Thursday.

     

    Acting Comptroller, FoU, Zone A, Hussein Ejibunu, during a press conference said that the bags of parboiled rice came into Cotonou from India.

     

    The bags of rice were smuggled into the country through Benin Republic Ejibunu said.

     

    “After seizing the smuggled rice, we called NAFDAC (National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control) to conduct laboratory analysis and it was gathered that the rice named SIMBA which consists of Led substances that is poisonous to the body was produced in India,” Ejibunu said.

     

    Similarly, in December 2016, Nigerian customs confiscated 2.5 tonnes of “plastic rice” smuggled into the country by unscrupulous businessmen.

     

    According to the agency, the fake rice, said to be sticky after being boiled, was intended to be sold during the festive season.

    Incidentally, rice is the most popular staple food in Nigeria.

  • [FULL LIST] Successful candidates of customs 2021 recruitment

    [FULL LIST] Successful candidates of customs 2021 recruitment

    The Nigerian Customs Service has released the final result of its 2021 recruitment exercise.

    According to an announcement by the service, the listed candidates are required to report to the office of the Comptroller Establishment, Nigerian Customs Service, Old Federal Secretariat, Area 1, Garki, Abuja from Monday 8th November to Tuesday 7th December 2021 for documentation. The candidates are expected to go along with the following [Click Here To See Full List] :

    1- Original certificate

    2- Indigene letter

    3- Birth certificate/Declaration of Age

    4- Four (4) photocopies of each of the credentials

    5- Four (4) passport photographs