The Pacesetter Frontier Magazine

Tag: Customs

  • [WATCH] Southeast Retired Customs Officers Hold Annual General Meeting in Enugu

    [WATCH] Southeast Retired Customs Officers Hold Annual General Meeting in Enugu

    …Welfare of retired officers top agenda

    The South East Retired Customs Officers Association convened in Enugu for its Annual General Meeting, bringing together retired officers from across the region to focus on welfare initiatives, shared experiences, and the celebration of life after service.

    The meeting, hosted by Chief Nwabueze Nnamani, a retired customs officer and former Council Chairman of Nkanu West took place on Saturday, 30th August, at his country home in Umuetugbu Oma, Akegbe Ugwu, Enugu.

    While speaking with PACESETTER, the President of the Association, Hon. Uzochukwu Eminent, said the gathering, held once every year, serves as a forum for all retired customs officers from the five Eastern states to come together and address the welfare of their members.

    According to him, the hosting of the AGM rotates among the states, and it was now Enugu’s turn. He acknowledged the positive changes in Enugu made by the current Governor since his early days in the city during his customs service. He said:

    “Coming to Enugu is an eye-opener. Enugu is something else. I started my work here in Enugu in 1979; it wasn’t like this. This Governor came here and made it innovative.

    Other governors should come to Enugu and be briefed on how to govern states. What is seen here is out of this world. It’s a landmark, it’s a masterpiece something you wouldn’t imagine happening in Nigeria. The few days I have spent here make one long to return.”

    Hon. Uzochukwu noted that one of the key problems customs officers face is inadequate funding. He urged the National Assembly to pass legislation ensuring that anyone who serves the country is well taken care of, including access to housing and other basic amenities that support a good quality of life. This, he said, would allow officers to focus fully on their duties without external distractions.

    Chief Sir Nwabueze Nnamani, the chief host, stated that the main purpose of the meeting was to discuss the challenges faced by retirees and explore possible solutions among themselves, while also seeking assistance from external sources.

    Recalling his days in Customs before retiring 15 years ago, he said: “It was interesting, sometimes challenging. I enjoyed my stay in Customs.”

    Barr. C.O.C. Chukwuma, a legal practitioner and retired customs officer, acknowledged that one of the common problems faced by retired officers is poor health. He said that in the course of serving the country, many endured harsh conditions frequent relocations, poor feeding, and inadequate rest.

    “All of these have a big impact on our lives at this old age we are presently in. Most of us who wanted to be here are not here because of health issues,” said Barr. Chukwuma.

    He appealed to the government to heed the cries of South East Retired Customs Officers whenever they speak out, adding that they would be deeply grateful.

    He also advised younger officers still in active service to prioritize their health, noting that health is the foundation for life after service. “The future lies in their health,” he said.

    Emphasizing the health challenges facing many retired officers, Mrs. Okpara Obiageli, wife of a retired customs officer, stated that many retirees are unwell, and a significant number are not yet aware of the Association. She expressed hope that as the AGM continues to rotate across states, more retirees will be encouraged to join.

    The Secretary to the Enugu State Government, Professor Chidiebere Onyia, also addressed attendees at the event.

    Following the meeting, members of the Association paid a courtesy visit to Senator Okey Ezea, who is also a retired customs officer. They later toured the city, acknowledging the developmental efforts of the Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah. Sites visited included the International Conference Center, Presidential Hotel Enugu, Holy Ghost Bus Terminal, and Gariki Bus Terminal.

    Also in attendance were traditional rulers, members of the Association, and other distinguished guests.

  • Customs intercepts 656,414 liters of fuel, other contraband

    Customs intercepts 656,414 liters of fuel, other contraband

    The Federal Operations Unit Zone A, of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) on Thursday, said it intercepted about 156 trailer loads of rice, 656,414 liters of premium motor spirit (PMS) other contraband worth N13,908 billion in 2022.

    The acting Controller of the Unit, DC Hussein Ejibunu, who stated this while addressing newsmen in Lagos, said that the Unit lost four officers to smuggling fight and arrested 176 smuggling suspects last year, while secured seven convictions., He stated that 14 suspects were charged to court and are at various stages of investigation and prosecution.

    Ejibunu added that seven suspects are in detention: while two suspects were handed over to NDLEA, and one suspect handed over to the Nigerian Police respectively, while 151 are on administrative bail.

    He said the Unit recovered shortfalls in duty payments and achieved a total collection of N878,344 million as revenue for the government in 2022. The unit boss saidthat the collected revenue would have been lost but for the intervention of FOU ‘A’, checking to be sure correct duties were paid into government coffers.

    However, he said among the items seized last year were foreign parboiled rice, vehicles, drugs, textiles, petroleum products and other items in the import and export prohibition lists.

    Aside protecting the national economy, he said some of the seizures achieved protection of citizens’ health because dangerous, expired and harmful products were prevented from being smuggled into the country.

    “In terms of volume, rice topped the list of our seizures. We seized 93,102 X 50kg which amounts to about 156 trailer loads of rice. Even our newly constructed warehouse had an overflow with seized rice,” he said.

    According to him, a total number of 108 automobiles comprising of trucks, tankers, cars and motorcycles were seized either as smuggled items or means of conveyance of smuggled items.

    “Illicit drugs seized within the year under review are, 7,354 kg and 4,975 tablets of Cannabis sativa, 233 cartons X 225 milligrams, and 82 packs X 225 milligrams of Tramadol. It is pertinent to remind us that these hard drugs fuel crime and insecurity. For petroleum products, this Unit seized 656,414 liters of premium motor spirit (PMS); that is, about 20 tanker loads of fuel from economic saboteurs who seek to impoverish the majority of our country people by taking out petrol subsidized for citizens’ benefit to be sold in other countries.

    “On a sad note, four (4) of our officers namely: Late inspectors of Customs TP Astor, and A Onwueguzie, and Assistant Inspectors of Customs, Musa, R and Bristol, E lost their lives in active service while confronting smugglers last year. While we frowned at such murderous acts, we also ensured that those behind some of the killings were arrested to face justice,” he lamented.

    (Sun)

  • Senate removes NPA, CAC, Customs, NIMASA, 6 other Govt owned Enterprises from 2023 budget

    Senate removes NPA, CAC, Customs, NIMASA, 6 other Govt owned Enterprises from 2023 budget

    Following the report of the Medium Term Expenditure Framework Fiscal Strategy Paper (MTEF/FSP,) the Senate has approved the removal of Government-Owned Enterprises (GOEs) from the 2023 national budget.

    The affected agencies are; Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and Nigeria Customs Service (NCS).

    Others include Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Federal Inland Revenue Service, (FIRS) Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMPDRA) and Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC). The decision of the Senate was sequel to the report of the MTEF/FSP submitted by the Senate Committee on Finance, chaired by Senator Adeola Olamilekan, which was considered on Wednesday.

    According to the report: “That 10 out of the 63 GOEs be placed on cost of collections to serve as a test case for other GOEs which can be added in the future. The list of these GOEs include , NCC, CAC, NPA, NIMASA, NUPRC, FIRS, CUSTOMS, NMPDRA, JAMB, NAFDAC, with immediate effect with the proposed finance bill 2023 coming up with the amendment of the existing Act of the above mentioned agencies.”

    Meanwhile, the Committee has pegged the total aggregate expenditure for 2023 at N19.76 trillion – comprising of a Total Recurrent (Non-debt) of N8.53 trillion; Personnel Costs (MDAs) of N827.8 billion; Capital expenditure (exclusive of transfers) N3.96 trillion; Special Intervention (recurrent) amounting to N350 billion; and Special intervention (capital) of N7 billion.