SAFAR 12 1431 A.H.
WEDNESDAY JANUARY 27, 2010.
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Customs recovers N12bn underpayments
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) says it has recovered N12 billion underpayments from importers who engaged in various sharp practices between October and December 2009.
The Comptroller-General of Customs, Alhaji Dikko Abdullahi, disclosed this in a message he sent to the International Customs Day (ICD) held yesterday in Abuja.
Abdullahi, represented by Mrs Mulikat Adegoke, Deputy Comptroller-General, Strategy, Research and Policy, said in the last quarter of 2009, the service inaugurated the Customs Duty Investigating team which unravelled the underpayments.
He said the team investigated 118 cases between October and December, 2009.
``While the volume of underpayments is huge, it is more worrisome that entities like oil majors, commercial banks and other big players in the economy are involved in these fraudulent practices,’’ he said.
Abdullahi said the service acknowledged that some of the acts were facilitated by collusion with some officers in the service.
He said customs would confront the challenge through prompt investigation and consideration of reported cases, saying in the last quarter, two officers were dismissed and six others reduced in rank.
Abdullahi said concrete steps had been taken to reduce corruption with the introduction of welfare packages including approval of 100 per cent increase in salaries for all officers and men in 2010 budget.
He said Nigeria shared the vision of the World Customs Organisation (WCO) in recognising the importance of a strategic alliance between government and business for sustainable economic development.
According to him, in line with our vision 20-2020 document, considerable attention is being given to the need for synergy between the public and private sector.
``The on going customs reforms and modernisation project and the port concession projects underscore the faith of the federal government in the strength of effective Public-Private Partnership (PPP),’’ he said.
Abdullahi said the service emphasised the need to build trust, saying ``there are some reputable corporate economic operators’’.
The Comptroller-General of Customs said they operate according to the rules saying that they are diligent in their documentations and declarations to customs.
He said the service had identified over 60 faithful companies and had admitted the companies into its fast-clearance concession scheme.
The comptroller-general said other companies that demonstrated such honesty and diligence would be considered worthy of being trusted and admitted into the scheme.
Abdullahi said in line with the WCO request, the service had identified some individuals and organisations that helped in forging partnership between customs and business by giving them awards.
Recipients of the WCO award are: the Maritime Reporters’ Association of Nigeria (MARAN), Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) and Diamond Bank Plc.
Other recipients are: Alhaji Bashir Borodo, Rep. Yakubu Dogara, Mr Bob Campbell, Mr Bill Nkedirim, Comptroller Olu Ogunojemite, Assistant Comptroller Ibrahim Alfa and Chief Superintendent of Customs Dera Nnadi.
