LFTZ management, customs officers and heads of government agencies welcoming the ACG and his team to the LFTZ

The Zonal Coordinator, Zone “A”, Assistant Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service, ACG Eporwei Charles Edike has been on the road searching for scarce,  elusive revenue. He has gone from factory to factory to enforce compliance with Excise Duty payments. The ACG has been to Yewa in Ogun State to forestall clashes between Customs officers and villagers in that axis. Only recently, he visited some of the sea ports in Lagos disguised. He has visited the airports, combing all nooks all crannies-NIPOST office, duty free shops for revenue. He has been to the Lekki Free Trade Zone, LFTZ, Lagos, to ensure, as he puts it “Not a kobo accruing to the federal government as revenue from any source is lost”

 How far is the ACG zone “A” ready to go in the quest for revenue and improved Customs services in zone “A”?

Earlier this year the ACG was in Ogun state. He used the opportunity to interact, motivate and inquired on the welfare and wellbeing of Customs officers serving in the Ohunbe Border Station/Barracks in Yewa North Local Government Area, Ogun state.

At the palace of His Royal Majesty Alayeluwa Oba Kehinde Gbadewole Olugbenle, the Olu of Ilaro and Paramount ruler of Yewa Land. The ACG, after pleasantries presented the Oba with a statistics of incidents and clashes between Customs officers and persons believed to be citizens of Yewa which, unfortunately, has resulted in deaths.

The visit, we gathered was aimed at sensitizing the people of Yewa and its environs on the need to cooperate with Customs in the discharge of their duties while also letting the village people know the risks and dangers of smuggling.

From command to command the ACG has gone; inspecting books, officers and men of the service. Excise Duty which before was looked down on has yield millions of naira to the Service. One factory after another, Edike harped on the need to comply with Excise provisions. While he insisted that every kobo owed government must be paid, he told many factory owners that Customs was ready and willing to assist them in their businesses. Whether the support is dependent on their compliance level is what we have not been able to ascertain.

The ACG has also the search for revenue to the Airports. At the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos, he combed all crannies including NIPOST offices and Duty free shops. He charged the CAC and Customs officers to ensure that all revenue leakages are blocked and maximum revenue collected.

The ACG  Zone “A” represented the Comptroller General of Customs at the launch of the Command Control Communication and Intelligence System, CCCIS, Just  launched by the Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, and  commissioned by the minister of transportation, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi.

According to Edike, automation of ports operational process by federal government agencies are in line with government’s vision towards changing   the old ways of doing business to modern, technology driven processes devoid of human interferences/manipulations. This, he said will save time, costs and reduce delays often caused by officials in a bid to be very thorough in their jobs.

In the words of the zonal coordinator, “the CCCIS is an additional effort and will enable the Nigerian Navy monitor midstream discharge of un-manifested cargo by vessels on Nigeria waters. Movement of vessels will also be monitored with greater precision to avoid loss of revenue by the federal government.

In recognition of the huge trade between Nigeria and China, efforts have been on to ensure that goods from China do not suffer delays nor attract clearing costs which are more often than not born by the innocent consumers of such imports in Nigeria.

The Deputy Consulate General of the Peoples Republic of China, Mr. Li Yong recently visited the Zonal Coordinator Zone ‘A’, ACG Eporwei Charles Edike to strengthen and enhance the already existing bilateral trade agreement between Nigeria and the Peoples Republic of China.

1. Li Yong who represented the Consulate General, requested for an interactive forum between the Nigeria Customs and the People of China in Nigeria to enable them have more knowledge on Customs import/Export Laws and Regulations.

As part of efforts in seeking solutions to present challenges and in order to address complaints by Customs licensed agents /port users, ACG Eporwei Charles Edike recently visited some of the sea ports in Lagos (Apapa and Tin Can) camouflaged.

Without escorts nor aides, he mingled with agents and customs officers inside customs offices in order to ascertain the level of efficiency and quality of service rendered by Customs officers to port users.

Irked by delays by APMT officials the ACG queried them:

“Time is money. Every second counts, by delaying these people cost of doing business is increased. It also makes our ports unattractive to customers. We must eliminate delays to reduce time and costs if our ports are to be competitive and attractive to port users within the West African Sub Region”.

He implored officers to remain dedicated to duty, professional in service and to shun all acts capable of compromising their judgments/duties. He charged all CACs within Zone “A” to ensure discipline and effective supervision.