Aviation

Jonathan Tasks Customs On Corruption

Published

13 years ago

December 7, 2012

President Goodluck Jonathan has urged the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) to correct the lingering perception of corruption and fraud in the service.

Declaring open the 2012 Annual Comptroller General of Customs Conference in Katsina, Jonathan acknowledged that the monthly revenue generation of the service had tripled from N30 billion to N100 billion.

Represented by Vice President Namadi Sambo, the president said that the ongoing reforms in the service had brought about “greater efficiency’’ but more needed to be done on corruption and fraud.

“In line with our administration’s zero tolerance for corruption, the customs service must constantly examine itself by weeding out corrupt men and officers whose activities tarnish the image of the service.

“You must faithfully abide by the principles of good governance, which encapsulates transparency and integrity.’’

The president also urged the service not to relent in its laudable role of facilitating trade, border protection and security of the nation.

He said the Federal Government appreciated the efforts of the service in preventing the proliferation of small and light weapons in Nigeria and pledged that the government would continue to give the required support to check the activities of those involved in the illicit trade.

He, however, called for increased collaboration between the service and other customs bodies across the world in the fight against “persistent smuggling and criminal activities’’ at entry ports.

“Constant networking and exchange of vital information with sister agencies will not only ensure easy detection, it will also guarantee the reduction of high risk shipments in the international supply chain.’’

On the theme of the week-long conference, “Borders Divide, Customs Connects’’, Jonathan urged conference participants to make the interest of Nigerians paramount.

He said discussions at the conference must seek innovative ways to ensure that “our borders do not distance us from sub-regional, regional and international trade.’’

He advised that borders should connect individuals and the nations to the economic benefits of global trade and ensure security.

In a goodwill message, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar highlighted the issue of officers killed in the line of duty as a result of insurgency in some parts of the country.

He urged the conference to address this and also the public perception of the service and professionalism.

Atiku, a former customs officer, said that although the public associated the service with corruption, “I cannot reconcile why retried officers happen to be the poorest after they leave the service’’.

“Transparency is the greatest antidote against corruption,’’ he stressed.

He commended the introduction of the single window system aimed at reducing the time and number of documents needed to transact business in Nigerian ports.

On professionalism, Atiku criticised what he called “short training schedule’’ for new recruits in the service.

He recalled that when he was recruited into the service in 1969, they trained for almost two years, “but I hear today that people undergo training for only three months.

“You must train yourselves properly and you must start by recruiting the right candidates.’’

Earlier, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Alhaji Abdullahi Dikko, described the year 2012 as a watershed for the service.

He highlighted the decision by the government to return Destination Inspection Regime (DIR), previously outsourced to contractors, to the service from December 31, 2012.

He assured stakeholders that the Nigeria Customs was ready to assume all functions of the service providers contracted by the government to provide scanning and risk management support under the DIR.

“The bold decision by government to return to the service, its statutory responsibilities is a function of the confidence Mr President has both in the leadership and capabilities of the service.’’

Dikko, who assumed leadership of the service in 2009, highlighted some of his achievements.

He said the present management had enhanced the remuneration of an average officer and had sustained a moral rebirth to enhance fiscal discipline and integrity.

He noted that the service, under his watch, had consolidated on service delivery by developing an indigenous database cargo clearance system known as Nigeria Integrated Customs Information System (NICIS).

The customs boss added that the service had concluded negotiations on Customs Mutual Administration Assistance Agreement with customs administrations in South Africa, Turkey and the U.S.

According to him, the agreement will assist in information sharing on commercial fraud.

Aviation

March 28 Rollout: FAAN Directs Airlines Integration Into National Single Window

Published

1 month ago

February 23, 2026

The Tide

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has directed all cargo airline operators to integrate their operations with the National Single Window (NSW) platform ahead of its official rollout in March 2026, in a move aimed at enhancing transparency, efficiency, and revenue collection in Nigeria’s trade ecosystem.

In a statement released last Tuesday to The Tide Correspondent at Omagwa Airport in Portharcourt, FAAN disclosed that its Directorate of Cargo Development and Services, in collaboration with the NSW implementation team, recently engaged key stakeholders across the aviation and cargo value chain to prepare them for the transition to the digital platform.

The statement said that during the engagement, cargo airline operators were directed by the Minister of Finance to begin submitting their air cargo manifests through the National Single Window platform as part of preparations for the official launch scheduled for March 27, 2026.

To ensure a seamless transition, FAAN said structured training sessions would be conducted for operators and other stakeholders ahead of the rollout to guarantee smooth adoption and effective utilisation of the system.

The National Single Window project, inaugurated by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in April 2024, is designed to centralise and digitise the processing of trade documentation, including manifests, permits, licences and customs declarations, through a single electronic gateway.

With the platform entering its first operational phase on March 27, 2026, stakeholders expect significant improvements in the way trade-related processes are handled, particularly for freight forwarders, licensed customs agents and cargo operators.

According to project principals, the successful launch of the system is expected to boost the efficient collection of customs duties and other trade-related taxes by allowing traders to submit all required documentation electronically via one platform, eliminating the need to interface separately with multiple government agencies.

Other anticipated benefits include reduced administrative costs, improved transparency, enhanced security of trade procedures and increased foreign investment driven by a more predictable and efficient trade environment.

FAAN, MTN Nigeria Launch Free Wifi Service At Lagos, Abuja Airports

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has partnered with MTN Nigeria to provide free WiFi services at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Terminal 2 in Lagos and the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja.

The service was officially launched on Thursday at the Lagos terminal.

FAAN’s Managing Director and Chief Executive, Olubunmi Kuku, who was represented at the event by the Director of Airport Operations, Abdullahi Mahmood, said the initiative is part of efforts to improve passenger experience and expand digital infrastructure at Nigerian airports.

According to FAAN, the service will be extended to the MMIA temporary terminal and other international airports across the country within the next three months.

Officials said the project is structured as a public-private partnership between FAAN and MTN Nigeria.

Speaking at the event, MTN Nigeria’s Chief Enterprise Business Officer, Lynda Saint-Nwafor, who represented the company’s Chief Executive Officer, Karl Toriola, said the company would ensure the service remains reliable and secure.

While FAAN described the rollout as a step toward modernising airport facilities, details of the funding model and long-term maintenance structure were not disclosed at the launch.

Airport users have long complained about limited or unreliable internet connectivity at major Nigerian terminals, particularly during peak travel periods.

However, FAAN did not immediately indicate whether the free service would be time-limited per user or subject to bandwidth restrictions.

By: Enoch Epelle

Aviation

Payment Of Cash: FAAN set February 28 Dateline in Nigeria Airport

Published

1 month ago

February 23, 2026

The Tide

The Managing Director/Chief Executive of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku, has firmly reiterated the Authority’s resolve to fully implement a cashless payment system across all airport payment points nationwide, effective February 28, 2026.

The reaffirmation came during a visit by executives and members of the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), who sought clarification on the decision to discontinue cash transactions at airports in Lagos last Thursday.

The engagement provided an opportunity for robust dialogue, reflecting FAAN’s open-door policy and commitment to inclusive stakeholder consultation.

According to a statement by Henry Agbebire, Director, Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, FAAN, the MD/CE emphasised that the transition to a cashless system is not only in line with global best practices in aviation management but also consistent with Federal Government directives aimed at enhancing transparency, accountability, and operational efficiency.

She referenced a Treasury Circular dated November 24, 2025, issued by the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation and signed by the Accountant General, Shamseldeen Ogunjimi, mandating the cessation of cash transactions in all government dealings.

The directive followed approval by the Federal Executive Council for Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to discontinue physical cash collections and payments as part of broader public finance reforms.

According to the MD/CE, “There is no going back on this decision.” She stressed that the cashless initiative aligns FAAN with national financial management reforms while positioning Nigeria’s airports for greater operational integrity, improved service delivery, and stronger revenue assurance.

Importantly, Mrs. Kuku noted that the reform also forms part of FAAN’s broader strategic agenda to deepen stakeholder engagement by fostering transparency, building trust, and ensuring that partners, unions, concessionaires, and service providers are carried along in key operational decisions.

By proactively engaging NUATE and other critical stakeholders, FAAN continues to demonstrate that institutional reforms and stakeholder collaboration must go hand in hand.Beyond compliance with government policy, the MD/CE highlighted the enormous benefits of a cashless system to the aviation ecosystem, including reduction in leakages, improved transaction traceability, faster service delivery, and enhanced public confidence in airport operations.

Addressing concerns raised about the use of Paystack as a third-party platform, she clarified that Paystack merely serves as a payment gateway for processing transactions.

She assured stakeholders that no revenue is paid into any Paystack account, as all payments are made directly from Point of Sale (POS) terminals into designated Federal Government accounts.

The NUATE delegation was comprehensively briefed on the processes and strategies put in place to ensure a seamless transition by the February 28, 2026 deadline.

At the end of the engagement, the Union members expressed satisfaction with the explanations provided and acknowledged that the implementation framework is both tenable and practical.

The move marks another significant milestone in FAAN’s ongoing reform agenda, reinforcing its commitment to modernising airport operations, strengthening institutional accountability, and promoting constructive engagement with stakeholders across the aviation value chain.

By: Enoch Epelle

Aviation

Aviation Professionals Want Agencies Boards’ Inauguration

Published

8 months ago

July 28, 2025

The Tide

As a measure to curb corruption and restore accountability, the Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals (ANAP), has called on the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, to push for the urgent formation and inauguration of governing boards for all other aviation agencies.
ANAP’s Secretary General, AbdulRasaq Saidu, made this call at the weekend when interacting with aviation correspondents, in reaction to recent inauguration of Board of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).
Keyamo had recently inaugurated the FAAN board, more than six months after its members were appointed by President Bola Tinubu, where Dr. Umar Ganduje was named Board Chairman, with FAAN’s Managing Director, Olubunmi Kuku, as the Vice Chairman.
Other board members include representatives from the Ministries of Justice, Defence, Tourism, and Aviation, as well as professionals from the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, and FAAN’s legal department.
The ANAP scribe there urged the aviation Minister not to stop at FAAN but to ensure that all aviation parastatals are given functional boards to restore order and credibility to the sector.
He, however, commended Keyamo for recently inaugurating the board of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria but stressed that more needed to be done.
Saidu also warned that the continued delay in constituting boards for other aviation agencies creates room for unchecked abuses, including illegal contracts, fraudulent employment practices, and mismanagement.
“The absence of governing boards violates the enabling Acts that established these agencies. Only properly constituted boards can enforce discipline, ensure due process in decision-making, and provide oversight to prevent corruption”, Saidu said.
He emphasised that the aviation unions, including ANAP, have consistently raised concerns about poor governance and lack of transparency within the aviation system.
He called on President Bola Tinubu to act swiftly by appointing board members for all relevant agencies, in the interest of fairness and aviation safety.
Saidu also tackled the former Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, for failing to inaugurate any boards during his eight-year tenure, despite appointments being made by former President Muhammadu Buhari.
“ANAP raised the alarm several times under Sirika’s leadership, but nothing changed. That lapse has continued under the current administration, and it must be addressed now”, Saidu stated.

By: Corlins Walter