Maritime

Reps Summon Customs Boss Over Remittances

Published

13 years ago

April 12, 2013

The Comptroller-General of Customs, Alhaji Abdullahi Inde Dikko, has been summoned by the House of Representatives Committee on Public Accounts over remittances to the federation account between 2007and 2010.

The committee is currently investigating remittances by revenue generating agencies.

The House members were working on queries bordering on 2007 to 2010 remittances to the federation account.

The House Committee branded the customs service as a lawless service agency.

According to the committee, “The Comptroller-General, had ignored six invitations, must address some queries regarding remittances that the service ought to have made” .

The committee has however fixed Wednesday, April 10, as the date Dikko must appear before it, noting that failing to respond to sundry issues raised by the· office of the Auditor-General of the federation may not be welcome.

The members of the committee took time to lambast the CGC for his arrogance and insubordination. The chairman of the committee, Hon. Solomon Olanilekan, expressed dismay at what he called consistent failure of the customs boss to honour their invitation.

It was gathered that the customs CG traveled to Ghana, but however delegated Deputy Comptroller- General (DG), John Atte, to represent him at the scheduled meeting, a development that angered the House committee members.

A member of the committee said, “we are not happy, the CG cannot be above board. That he is controlling revenue and in charge of too much money does not make him above board”.

The House of Representatives are also probing the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) of the N5.6 billion, which the corporation spent yearly on oil pipeline protection in violation of the NSCDC Act.

The House resolution was taken through a motion moved by Hon. Robinson Uwak on the contract awarded by the NNPC for pipeline protection, a role that is statutorily allocated to the Nigerian security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

The three commuters comprises of Petroleum Resources (Down stream) Interior and National Security and Intelligence were mandated to investigate the matter and report to the whole House within four weeks.

According to Hon. Robinson Uwak, the NNPC spent N5.6 billion yearly on the. protection of oil pipelines in violation of the NSCDC Act, which empowers the corps to protect the pipelines in section 3(1) of the NSCDC it stated, “the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps shall maintains 24 hours surveillance over infrastructure, sites and projects of the federal, states and local government.

The NSCDC has the power to arrest without a warrant, detain, investigate and institute legal proceedings against any person who is reasonably suspected to have committed an offence under this Act, or is involved in any power transmission lines or, oil pipelines, Nigeria Postal Service (NIPOST) cables equipment, water board pipes and equipment vandalism.

Hon Uwak stated that the huge sums of money spent in servicing the pipeline contract could be invested in funding the NSCDC to enable it carry out its statutory functions, rather than giving it to a private firm in violation of the law”.

Maritime

Weak Shipping Line Regulation Undermines Customs Reforms —-Says SEREC

Published

1 week ago

January 28, 2026

The Tide

The Sea Empowerment and Research Centre (SEREC) says poor regulation of shipping lines could undermine the credibility of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) reforms.

Head of Research SEREC, Dr Eugene Nweke made this Known to Newsmen in Abuja

Nweke said that customs efficiency was linked to the performance of the Nigeria’s maritime and trade ecosystem.

Hr described the NCS as central to the success of the National Single Window (NSW) risk-based clearance and trade facilitation reforms.

“However, Customs efficiency gains are systematically eroded when upstream shipping practices introduce artificial delays, speculative charges, remote cargo release approvals and opaque cost structures”.

“In effect, weak regulation of shipping line conduct externalises inefficiencies into the Customs clearance process, inflates transaction costs, distorts compliance behavior and undermines the credibility of customs-led trade reforms,”

Nweke said that SEREC had submitted a white paper to the government advocating that shipping line governance, port economic regulation, and customs trade administration should be treated as inseparable policy domains.

SEREC said Nigeria’s Port challenges were not only infrastructure-driven but governance-related, warning that weak regulation, missing oversight reports and unchecked discretion in systems like the NSW could undermine reform efforts.

SEREC recommended reforms for Nigeria’s shipping sector, including public release of committee findings, statutory refund timelines with penalties, banning speculative demurrage billing, mandatory local cargo release and alignment of shipping practices with the NSW among others.

Nweke said that the aim of the white paper was to draw attention to sharp practices and regulatory weaknesses that had evolved beyond operational inconveniences into macroeconomic and governance risks.

“For NCS trade reforms to deliver their full impact in 2026 and beyond, shipping practices must align with the same principles guiding Customs modernisation: transparency, predictability, automation, accountability and local control.

Nweke said that by 2026, stakeholders in Nigeria’s maritime industry hope to transition from opaque and arbitrary port operations to a transparent, rules-based system managed through digital technology.

He stressed that the shift should align with ongoing reforms and international best practices, facilitated by the government through providing enabling environment and enforcing regulations

“These include predictable costs, enforceable service standards, transparent billing, time-bound cargo release, and institutional accountability particularly as Nigeria advances the National Single Window (NSW), port economic regulation, and revenue optimisation objectives.

“The expectation is not the creation of new laws, but disciplined enforcement of existing instruments, public disclosure of regulatory outcomes, and insulation of regulators from political and commercial capture,” Nweke said.

By: CHINEDU WOSU

Maritime

Tinubu Approve Take Off Of Olokola Deep Seaport In Ogun State

Published

1 week ago

January 28, 2026

The Tide

Nigeria President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the immediate take-off of the Olokola Deep Seaport project in Ogun Waterside Local Government Area

The approval brings to an end years of delay surrounding the multi billion dollar Port.

Gov. Dapo Abiodun of Ogun made this Known to Journalists during an interactive session

Governor Abiodun said the Seaport would help decongest Lagos ports, while oil drilling at Tongeji Island would boost economic activities and inclusion in coastal communities.

“The Olokola deep seaport project, which has been on the drawing board for several years, has been revived following a series of meetings with the President”.

“I want to sincerely thank Mr President because this is solely his initiative. In the last two weeks alone, we have held several meetings on Olokola, and he has clearly expressed his desire to see the port become a reality,” he said.

The Governor said the seaport would be known as the Blue Marine Economic Zone, would leverage the coastal road as an alternative logistics corridor and further ease pressure on the Lagos ports.

He commended the Nigerian Navy for establishing a Forward Operations Base at Tongeji Island, saying the move would enhance security and prevent infiltration from neighbouring Benin Republic.

The Governor said that the state government was working to provide basic amenities for residents of the island to improve living conditions and support emerging economic activities.

Abiodun thanked the Navy for its contribution to security in the state, attributing the relative peace in Ogun to collaboration among security agencies.

By: CHINEDU WOSU

Maritime

Gov Eno Vows To Actualise Ibom Deep Seaport Project

Published

1 week ago

January 28, 2026

The Tide

Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno says his administration is commitment to deliver the Ibom Deep Seaport project as a critical infrastructure to boost the state’s economy and transform the region.

The Governor said this during the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the state government and the Interaf Group Consortium at the Government House, Uyo.

Represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr Enobong Uwah, Eno emphasized on the project’s significance.

“The project is a necessity for the people of the state as my administration is fully committed to putting the necessary requirements in place to get it on course,” Eno said.

The Governor urged the consortium to work closely with the Akwa Ibom Investment Corporation, AKICORP, and the government’s representatives to ensure its timely execution.

He commended the organisation for its interest in ensuring the actualisation of the project

The Governor thanked the former Petroleum Minister, Mr Don Etiebet, for being a part of the team, and for working toward the actualisation of the facility.

Earlier,Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Interaf Group Consortium, Mr Ezinwa Ibekwe commended the government for the confidence reposed in the company.

Ibekwe assured the government of the consortium’s readiness to deliver on its mandate, promising a collaborative approach to ensure the project’s success.

By: CHINEDU WOSU