Illicit Arm Dealers Dread Tin Can Ports- Customs

By Kenneth Jukpor

As Nigeria’s polity heats up whilst the 2019 General Elections edges closer, the Tin Can Customs Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has assured Nigerians that the Command had become dreaded by illegal arms importers.

Recall that last year, the influx of arms into the country from Turkey saw 2671 pump-action rifles intercepted with about 60% of the seizures recorded at Tin Can Customs Command.

This assurance is comforting as Nigerians have become perplexed that dubious sit-tight politicians may explore arms importation in a bid to equip hoodlums for criminal activities such as snatching ballot boxes, disrupting elections at locations where they have low patronage, among other immoral practices popular during elections.

Speaking with MMS Plus during an exclusive interview, the Customs Public Relations Officer (PRO) at the Command Mr. Uche Ejisieme told our correspondent that the Command the persistent seizures and tact which led to the discovery have sent clear message to criminals that

“Tin Can Island Port has become a no-go area for illicit trade especially arms import. Last year and two years ago they tried it and we impounded everything they brought. We have also been able to intensify our efforts especially at this point when we insist on 100% physical examination” he said.

He stressed that the Command does cargo profiling on those cargoes suspected to be shady.

“We also profile the importer to know exactly the status of the importer and what he intends to use the cargo for. The issue of arm import at Tin Can has become history following the remarkable seizures recorded last year” he added.

Meanwhile, as part of efforts to curb frivolous alerts in Customs procedures at the Tin Can Island Port, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS)  recently commissioned a “One Treatment Area” to enhance the operations of the Query and Amendment Department at the Command.

This was contained in a press release yesterday signed by the Command’s PRO, highlighting other achievements of the Command in the month of August to include; the establishment of an Ultra Modern Canteen and a Mini Sports Pitch also commissioned in an event which attracted wide array of maritime stakeholders.

The Customs Area Controller (CAC), Comptroller Musa Baba Abdullahi, while conducting the Zonal Coordinator round the projects, noted that the projects became imperative following the need to re-position the Command to an enviable height in order to add further impetus to its status as the most User Friendly Port in the sub-region.

Declaring open the ‘One Stop Shop’ the Zonal Coordinator, Assistant Comptroller General (ACG) Dahiru Aminu, commended the Area Controller at Tin Can for his thoughtfulness, noting that the facility would address the incessant complaints of multiplicity of alerts, which hitherto was a recurring decimal.

“As the name connotes, stakeholders are enjoined to take advantage of this, especially for the facilitation of Legitimate Trade. The centre will house Query and Amendment (Q & A), Valuation and CIU for the synchronization and harmonization of trade disputes” the Zonal Coordinator said.

Similarly, while commissioning the Ultra Modern Canteen and a Mini Sports Pitch, the Zonal Coordinator, congratulated the CAC for embarking on projects with considerable significance to the well being of the officers/men.

He also commended the Management and Staff of Seven Up Bottling Company Limited for donating a synthetic Mini Pitch as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and noted that it will serve the sporting needs of both officers and their esteemed stakeholder.

On the area of Revenue Collection, the Customs Area Controller declared that the Command collected a total of Thirty-One Billion, Eight Hundred and Forty Eight Million, Two Hundred and Thirty Three Thousand, Five Hundred and Ninety Naira and Thirty Nine Kobo (N31,848,233,590.39) in the month of August, 2018.

This is against the sum of twenty-eight billion, six hundred and three million, nine hundred and twenty-five thousand, two hundred and thirty-two naira, forty-seven kobo (N28,603,925,232.47) during the corresponding period of 2017, representing a difference of Three Billion, Two Hundred and Forty-Four Million, Three Hundred and Eight Thousand, Three Hundred and Fifty-Seven Naira and Ninety-Two Kobo (N3,244,308,357.92)

Meanwhile, the Command also organized a two-day seminar for Association of Nigeria Customs Licensed Agents (ANCLA) 5th – 6th September, 2018 following their formal request for training on “End User Certificate (EUC) Documentation Guideline and Requirement”.

At the event, the CAC harped on the need for Stakeholders to build effective partnership by supporting and enforcing the Fiscal Policies of the Federal Government in terms of Trade, while reiterating his commitment to reward compliant declarants and to sanction complacence.