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By Steve Agbota
Clearing agents have scored the Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi about 60 per cent on national and border security based on his performance in the first year in office.
The scorecard was based on the rate at which Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), has been seizing drugs and psychotropic substances in the last few months under the leadership of the Customs CG.
Speaking with Daily Sun in an interview yesterday, the former acting President of Association of National Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Dr Kayode Farinto, gave a detailed evaluation of Adeniyi’s tenure based on six critical indices: revenue target, border security, trade facilitation, national security, stakeholder engagement, and compliance with international conventions.
However,, he rated the CG 55 per cent on revenue target, 60 per cent on border security and national security respectively, 30 per cent on stakeholders’ engagement, 20 per cent on trade facilitation and compliance with conventions and international laws.
Meanwhile, he acknowledged that Adeniyi has made significant strides in revenue generation and national security, rating him 55 per cent and 60 per cent respectively.
He commended the CG’s initiatives in tightening border security, which have been crucial in curbing smuggling and enhancing national safety.
However, he stressed that meeting revenue targets is not sufficient to deem his overall performance as exemplary.
Although, he mentioned one of the critical areas where Adeniyi needs to improve and where he received low marks is trade facilitation, with just 20 per cent .
Farinto pointed out that there are several factors impeding trade, which he believes the CG has not adequately addressed, which include, bureaucratic bottlenecks and inefficiencies that have continued to frustrate traders and businesses.
“Similarly, on stakeholder engagement I scored him only 30 per cent. I’m surprise at the low level of engagement at the national level, despite expectations that there would be substantial interactions with stakeholders to improve Customs processes and policies.
“Another area where Adeniyi’s performance needs to improve is compliance with international conventions and laws, which I also scored him just 20 per cent. I don’t just score him but I have taking my time to assess the CG activities in the last one year in office. We need to tell him areas where he has done well and where he needs to improve,” he said.
On the area of compliance with international conventions, Farinto pointed out that the current practices often contravene established international agreements such as the General Agreement on Trade and Tariffs (GATT), adding that the Customs valuation process, which sometimes imposes arbitrary values on goods, undermines the principles of fair trade and transparency.
He also raised concerns about selective favoritism within the Customs operations, which he described as detrimental to fair trade practices.
This favoritism, according to him, leads to inconsistencies and undermines the credibility of the customs service.
Moreso, he bemoaned the extended timeframes for obtaining necessary approvals and clearances, which have lengthened under Adeniyi’s tenure, adding that these delays are counterproductive and exacerbate the operational challenges faced by businesses.
He noted that while Comptroller General Adewale Adeniyi has made notable progress in revenue generation and border security, significant challenges remain in trade facilitation, stakeholder engagement, and adherence to international standards.
Farinto called for a balanced approach that not only prioritises revenue and security but also enhances efficiency, transparency, and stakeholder collaboration.
