Follow Us on Google
From Uche Usim, Abuja
The acting Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Mr Adewale Adeniyi, has described the recently unveiled Nigeria Customs Act (NCSA 2023) as a major catalyst towards boosting revenue, operational efficiency, national security and other value-additions.
Adeniyi stated this in Abuja on Monday at a sensitisation workshop on NCSA 2023.
According to him, the new legal document replaces a 63-year-old operational template that has become very obsolete and inimical to Customs’ growth and development.
He said: “The Nigeria Customs Service is one of the very important agencies of the Federal Government saddled with the enormous responsibility of administering, managing and enforcing the provision of the defunct Customs and Excise Management Act Cap C45 LFN 2004 (CEMA). This CEMA was enacted 63 years ago and had remained in operation since then without any significant amendment notwithstanding the expansion in government, growth in population and dynamic progress and challenges in the economy. Consequent to this, several attempts were made in the past to cause amendments or the repeal of CEMA to no avail.
“Under this new legal regime, the Service has been statutorily empowered to administer and enforce the provisions of the Act; collect and account for revenue from Customs and Excise among others; promote trade facilitation; prevent smuggling activities and carry out border enforcement; do such other things as are necessary for or incidental to the performance of the function and duties of the Service under the Act.
“Previous legislation didn’t provide sufficient punitive measures. Some fines were written in pennies and criminals knew infractions attracted just a pat on the wrist. But this has changed now.
“We are equally appreciative of the urgent need to sensitise the public on the provisions of this law to prevent the excuse of ignorance of the law, which is not a defence. The Service will continue to sensitise and educate the public on the provisions of the law and Customs procedure and processes”, he explained.
On smuggling of petroleum products across borders, Adeniyi said it has substantially reduced, assuring that plans were afoot to end the scourge which tops the list of economic sabotage.
Also speaking, Leke Abejide, former Chairman, House Committee on Customs in his keynote address said that the days of non-career Customs officers becoming the Comptroller General are gone.
He said he worked hard to repeal the old Customs and Excise Management Act (CEMA) as the Bill was declined assent three times.
“It got to a point it became practically the only project I was doing as I was having meetings in the Ministry of Justice while also talking with the Ministry of Finance and the Nigeria Customs Service.
“Were it not for perseverance and dedication on my part, I would have given up the same way previous administrations did, but all glory to God, it is a reality today.
“The reforms introduced by the new Act have a tremendous effect on every facet of our national economy and also the officers’ career progression with some enhanced level of professionalism and job motivation which has hitherto been deprived of the Service. This new legislation further marks a significant milestone in our efforts to streamline Customs procedures, enhance trade facilitation, and foster a conducive environment for economic growth and development.
“Today every Customs Officer is assured that his labour is not going to be truncated at the peak of his career neither is he going to be denied the fruit of long, faithful and dedicated service to his/her motherland.
“The provisions of Section 14 (1) of the new Act is very instructive on professionalism, by providing appointment of a career officer from the Service to be head of management of the Service,” he explained.
