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From Idu Jude, Abuja
Over the years, the Nigerian government has been combating the scourge of importing substandard goods abroad through various agencies. In this interview, National Coordinator of the Nigeria Importers Special Taskforce Agency Mr. Obinna Michael Ekwego, said for the agency to perform optimally, it needs an Act of the National Assembly. He also spoke on other issues.
Can you educate Nigerians on the primary duties of this agency and what distinguishes it from other agencies, such as Customs, NAFDAC, and Immigration?
Apart from the duties of other organisations, the Nigeria Importers Special Taskforce Agency (NISTA) exists under a parent body, which is the Nigerian Importers Association (NIA). As we know, this is a group of businessmen who import their products from overseas. Yes, other organisations, such as Customs, SON, and NDLEA, are also constituted to perform similar duties. But first of all let’s acknowledge the fact that if you don’t have importers, there won’t be the need for all these organisations. Honestly speaking, these government agencies cannot work without collaborating with our own taskforce established to regulate the activities of the members. Therefore, they need that collaboration with us.
Let me also tell you that the primary duty of the taskforce encompasses those government agencies that are specified or spelled out.
But our duties cut across the whole illicit importation of goods, which makes our duty unspecified. For example, the customs is for the importation of contraband goods, the SON, is for substandard goods, and the NAFDAC, is for fake drugs and foods.
Can you shed light on the existing collaboration to avoid duplication of duties or clash of interests?
Exactly what I am saying. And don’t forget, the reason the Federal Government initiated what is called the national single window of operation. It is an idea targeted at bringing sister organisations together to avoid duplication of duties. The intention of the government has been for every agency to come under a single window, to fight illicit trade. As we speak, the plan of the National Single Window is on, and the national training on it is also coming up soon.
Is there an existing law established by the National Assembly on this?
At the moment, there is an existing bill at the Senate, which has gone beyond second reading and we know that at the third reading, it shall be listed for presidential assent because this is the economic base of the country. Right now we are using the Federal Government law to prosecute offenders. What I mean is that we move with the Police because we don’t have the constitutional right to prosecute offenders right now. And don’t forget that the taskforce was formed and inaugurated in July 2010 through the office of the National Security Adviser and the Ministry of Finance. And what we normally do is that when we intercept any defaulting member, then we hand them over to the police for proper action. Then the police would arrest the person based on the punishment attached to the offence. Again, sometimes, we hand over special cases to organisations like NAFDAC, SON, and Customs, according to their specific requirements.
What efforts are you making to see that it scales through?
We are in the National Assembly working diligently to see that it works out and we have passed the first and second stages. First reading, second reading that is where we are.
In line with your efforts at the National Assembly, when are you assuring Nigerians of the Act?
Very nice question. Based on our work and discussions with the sponsor of the bill Senator Smart Adeyemi of Kogi State, sooner or later, the Presidency will give assent to it because here we are talking about the economy of the country being hampered by the illicit importations. Sometimes I reason that this war is not only to help genuine importers but to save the lives of Nigerian consumers who are at the receiving end.
Can you update Nigerians on other challenges you have encountered?
Well, I can’t say that we have numerous challenges because nearly all the Nigerian importers know the agency, which is their brainchild. Again whenever we get wind of any substandard goods, we go and obtain a search warrant from the court to move in. And when we come, the importers know us. So we don’t have many challenges.
How can the court give you a search warrant when at the moment you don’t exist under the law?
Remember, I told you earlier that we work under the Police Act. Whatever we do now is carried out through the Nigerian Police. In this regard, we get the search warrant or warrant of arrest through the efforts of the police.
Since you are yet unrecognised by law, who finances your budget?
Earlier I told you that we have a parent body, which nurtures this taskforce. So the headquarters of genuine importers are the ones paying the bills for the moment. And this is to make sure that they apprehend those adulterating imported goods in this country. The genuine importers are making sure that those who fake their products within the country face the wrath of the law. And don’t forget that even the federal government doesn’t generate any revenue from those who adulterate such products. So everyone loses because such people do not carry out any importation due process where the government earns revenue.
How many states of the federation do you operate in presently?
We operate in all 36 states and the federal capital in Abuja. And the salaries of our staff are paid from the money we get from the importers
As an employer of labour, what is your staff strength?
I can’t give you a rough estimate right now, until I get in touch with various state coordinators. But we are counting thousands presently. As I speak to you, we are planning to have a national conference consisting of all the state coordinators, the Board members, and the zonal leaders. This conference is held twice a year – one in the first quarter and the second in the third quarter. This is where we analyse our activities, and also bring in new ideas for the next.
What is the number of arrests your agency has made and handed over to the police?
Right at the time our DG, Mr Philimon Leha was in service as Commissioner of Police Anambra State, we made several arrests, including the cache of arms at the Head Bridge Onitsha and we monitored, verified, and handed over to the police. We have intercepted so many containers and when I was in Lagos, I knew how many we strategically intercepted. Right in this office, you can see lithium batteries over there, they are part of our recent interception at Kano and the other in Abuja here.
Earlier the man we arrested in Abuja denied being an importer. After the investigation, he confessed that he is into the importation of counterfeit goods, faking another person’s franchise through which he smuggled the goods, and declared the goods as panel thereby depriving the federal government of generating revenue of billions of naira. The same thing happened to the one intercepted in Kano that claimed to have assembled his products as a manufacturer who is into the importation of finishing products. After investigation, we discovered that the same company has no factory in Nigeria, and he used a document of a free trade zone to smuggle their containers.
We involve the Nigeria Customs Service and the Standard Organization of Nigeria. We always try to tell people that the majority of the manufacturers are into importation because the raw materials used for production are imported
And one other thing is that we help the Federal Government to generate revenue because those who fall into our traps are redirected to follow the due process so that the customs will raise papers for them and they will pay and bring the receipt to us. And through that, we have realised millions of naira.
During your operations, do you go undercover or in uniform?
We have our customised jackets just like the EFCC or the ICPC. But as I told you, we are always with the police force.
Is there any parallel body existing anywhere in the country, and performing similar duties?
No, we don’t have such. But I can tell you that through our investigation, some people are trying to set up a parallel body, but it will be dealt with. We have such in Niger State but that is being handled appropriately.
One other thing is that we have mandated all our members to ensure their files are updated and their names captured at the headquarters at a reasonable time, otherwise they may lose their membership. And the process is on-going.
