Customs Shocks Resident Officers, Allows CG Strike Force to Seize Goods Inside Ports
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has now given the operatives of the Controller General of Customs (CGC) Strike Force the power to re-examine goods inside the ports and seize them if necessary.
The latest measure which appears to have taken care of complaints of interception of goods few meters away from the ports was contained in a circular date Thursday and sent to all Area Controllers.
The circular was signed by the Deputy Comptroller General in charge of Examination, Inspection and Investigation, DCG Augustine Chidi.
The circular directed all Area Controllers to cooperate with the Strike Force team or be held accountable for issues of non-compliance.
The latest decision had to do with the failure of the resident examination officers in the ports to carry out 100 percent examination on goods before being released to importers.
Part of the circular reads: “It has been observed that 100% examination of cargo at the ports are not done properly by the officers assigned to do so.
“Consequently, the following instructions must be carried out with immediate effect and Area Controllers will personally be held responsible for non-compliance.
“Henceforth, every Area Controller must respond accordingly to Strike Force Intervention Alerts.
“The Strike Force tem has been authorized henceforth to intervene right in the port and possibly make seizures where necessary without hindrance.
“Non-compliance to this circular would attract severe sanctions”.
Observers believe that the latest development was a clear indication of lack of trust on the resident customs officers to do their job properly.
However, what is not clear is whether members of the Strike Force will still be mounting road blocks to intercept containers.
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