Nigerian customs officials after the seizure of some contraband in Lagos... recently
Determined to rid the ports of decades of corruption, the Nigeria Customs Service (NSC), in a renewed effort, is beaming searchlight on corrupt officers, writes Francis Ugwoke
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) last week renewed its war against corrupt officers in the system. This time about 29 officers were suspended over one offence or the other bordering on corruption. Among the various offences involving officers, including a deputy controller and assistant controllers, include bribe scandal in which three superintendent of customs collected the sum of $13,000. Others allegedly collected other sums of money to release seized goods. What was not clear was the type of goods released.
The Public Relations Officer of the Service, Alhaji Wale Adeniyi, Deputy Comptroller, while confirming the story also clarified that three of the suspended officers were of the rank of Assistant Superintendent who are serving at the Currency Declaration Desk of the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja. The officers allegedly collected the $13000 bribe from one of the passengers during the outward clearance in Emirate flight. It was gathered that the Comptroller General of Customs, Abdullahi Dikko, had based on reports reaching him ordered investigation of the affected officers in a renewed onslaught against corruption in the system. So far, nearly every major command is involved in the allegation of corrupt practices. In the Tin Can Island port, there are at least five senior officers in the rank of Assistant Comptrollers. They were suspended for improper release of seized goods. At Seme Border, two officers in the rank of superintendents were suspended for rape. In Apapa port, a deputy controller was also said to have appeared before an investigative panel on allegation of negligence, improper examination of containers, among others. Other officers who are facing disciplinary measures were accused of various corrupt practices, including hacking of passwords, falsification of academic certificates, negligence and general indiscipline.
Comptroller General of Customs, Alhaji Inde Dikko Abdullahi, was particularly reported to have expressed concern over increasing cases of indiscipline among officers. Among some of the worrisome acts of the officers include operation of illegal check points on some routes through which innocent Nigerians are extorted.
The targets of the unscrupulous customs officers are newly registered vehicles and other goods. The officers could be found on the East West road, between Lagos and Edo East West road. The officers could also be found around Kogi. But the CG was said to have assured that those involved in such illegal operations would be monitored and brought to book. To every customs officer on check points, every person with a newly registered car is assumed to have smuggled such car into the country. While it is true that some vehicles are smuggled into the country and sold with fake customs papers, it is also the duty of the customs to stop the smugglers. Surprisingly, some customs officers are allegedly involved in aiding and abetting smuggling of vehicles and other items into the country through bush paths.
Ports and Tradition of Corruption
Every customs comptroller general has always waged war against corruption among officers. And this may not be unconnected with the long held belief that the ports environment is full of corruption with the customs allegedly topping other organisations and individuals involved in this economic crime.
Every customs comptroller general has always waged war against corruption among officers. And this may not be unconnected with the long held belief that the ports environment is full of corruption with the customs allegedly topping other organisations and individuals involved in this economic crime.
It does not matter that the customs personnel may not be the ones initiating the corrupt tendencies, but as gate keepers they are not supposed to encourage it. So, the label of corruption has been on the face of the customs and its personnel. Incidentally, those who drum this louder are even the same importers and their customs agents who honestly take the lead in corrupting some willing unscrupulous customs personnel.
Dikko’s War
The current comptroller-general has for long made efforts to fight against corruption in the system. This was one of the reasons why he created so many welfare packages for the officers and men of the service. Apart from doubling salaries of officers, he has also ensured improved conditions of service for every officer in the service. But like many would say, fighting corruption anywhere in Nigeria has never been an easy task. Sometimes, the government has its own share of the blame when some officials fail to show example. Take for instance the case involving one of the auto manufacturers who imported several containers and declared them as Completely Knocked Down (CKD) parts in one of the ports in a bid to enjoy zero duty. But on thorough examination, it was discovered that the goods were simply tyres and other items which duties were put at N2billion.
The Customs had threatened to seize the goods except the importer paid N2bn DN. But the importer quickly ran to some government quarters who in turn put the heat on the customs to release the goods. Such incident does not encourage any officer in the system in the fight against corruption. It is like saying that the law is only made for some people while those who have connections in high places are left untouched when they run against the law. There is no doubt that the entire customs service was humiliated as a result of that action. What it means is that the same company continues in that illegality and no customs officer will dare take action because of the protection the importer is enjoying in some quarters.
Importers, Customs Brokers and Officers
The ports, whether sea, air or border station, have a tradition of corruption revolving around all the actors and not limited to a particular agency or individual. There is the giver and the taker. The giver is the owner of the cargo or his customs agent. In about 80 percent cases, the giver is the one who understands he has committed trade crime and wants to be free by greasing the palms of either the customs officials or any other agency personnel. And it is the duty of the agencies of government to ensure that the right thing is done. This would mean a lot of sacrifice, in what will certainly put an end to all trade malpractices. But it has become a difficult task for officers. It is often said that no matter how clean an importer is, he may still find it difficult to escape the clandestine moves of some agency officials. He must be strong and understand his rights well to avoid extortion even after following all the procedures. Yet, those in this category may be very few, even among few corporate importers. Observers hold the view that the main cause of corruption in the ports is linked to the importer and his agent.
The ports, whether sea, air or border station, have a tradition of corruption revolving around all the actors and not limited to a particular agency or individual. There is the giver and the taker. The giver is the owner of the cargo or his customs agent. In about 80 percent cases, the giver is the one who understands he has committed trade crime and wants to be free by greasing the palms of either the customs officials or any other agency personnel. And it is the duty of the agencies of government to ensure that the right thing is done. This would mean a lot of sacrifice, in what will certainly put an end to all trade malpractices. But it has become a difficult task for officers. It is often said that no matter how clean an importer is, he may still find it difficult to escape the clandestine moves of some agency officials. He must be strong and understand his rights well to avoid extortion even after following all the procedures. Yet, those in this category may be very few, even among few corporate importers. Observers hold the view that the main cause of corruption in the ports is linked to the importer and his agent.
Leaders of associations of customs brokers would not accept this. But the truth is that it is the agent who does all the ‘greasing’ of palms when the importer under-declares, under-values or commits offence of outright concealment. An average importer or at least 80 percent of importers want to undervalue their goods or make wrong declarations so that he could evade payment of some duties. This is a fact that customs officers are aware of, and in most cases many of them prepare in advance to get their own share before releasing the goods. It is for this reason that how much is issued to an importer or his agent as DN is most times negotiated between the parties involved. It is the government that loses. Part of what is lost to the government is shared among the parties, and a little sum is paid back to government as DN. This way, everyone smiles away, including the importer who goes ahead committing the same offence again and again because he has collaborators. This explains why a customs officer who is not in the ports or at least border station feels he has missed everything.
Futility of war against corruption
The seaport, airport or border station remains a part of the economic system of the country. It is also part of the larger society in Nigeria where corruption has over the decades been celebrated directly or indirectly. It is true that many administrations have waged war against corruption, but the truth is that it is not succeeding. But it can succeed if Nigerians change by checking individual selfishness. Just think about the big names who have been charged to court for corrupt practices but who had escaped justice by simply greasing the palms of those who matter in the system. The introduction of plea-bargain years back for some highly placed corrupt people facing the law is one of the reasons why many Nigerians believe that the war against corruption in the country will continue to be an illusion. In every situation, those who commit fraud while in government or economic crime by importers should be made to face the full weight of the law if war against corruption in the country is to succeed. This is the only way to stop few highly placed individuals or others in positions from cornering the larger portions of the wealth of the nation.
The seaport, airport or border station remains a part of the economic system of the country. It is also part of the larger society in Nigeria where corruption has over the decades been celebrated directly or indirectly. It is true that many administrations have waged war against corruption, but the truth is that it is not succeeding. But it can succeed if Nigerians change by checking individual selfishness. Just think about the big names who have been charged to court for corrupt practices but who had escaped justice by simply greasing the palms of those who matter in the system. The introduction of plea-bargain years back for some highly placed corrupt people facing the law is one of the reasons why many Nigerians believe that the war against corruption in the country will continue to be an illusion. In every situation, those who commit fraud while in government or economic crime by importers should be made to face the full weight of the law if war against corruption in the country is to succeed. This is the only way to stop few highly placed individuals or others in positions from cornering the larger portions of the wealth of the nation.
No comments:
Post a Comment