Maritime
Controller Vows To Stop Smugglers At Western Marine
The Customs Area Con
troller, Western Marine Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Comptroller Yusuf Umar, has reiterated his commitment to stop the nefarious activities of smugglers within his jurisdiction.
Speaking with The Tide in Lagos, Umar said the negative impact of smuggling on the economy cannot be allowed to continue if genuine business men and women are to reap from their investments.
“With the selfless leadership shown by the Comptroller General, Dr. Abdulahi Inde Dikko, we at Western Marine have decided to re-dedicate ourselves to duty and compliment the efforts of the CGC. We are telling smugglers, to stop smuggling because we shall not stop until they (smugglers) stop”.
Asked how he has been able to achieve so much, Umar replied, “We are following the examples of our leader, the Controller-General. We have learned how to manage the resources at our disposal, motivated officers and men of the service and they in appreciation have no option but to deliver.
“Customs has changed. The Customs of today is energized, highly motivated, trained, focused and inspired to deliver. No officer has any excuse not to do what is expected”
“The battle against smugglers, Umar stated is not a personal battle but a national service aimed at ensuring safety of lives of Nigerians. If smuggling is not checked, Umar declared, the economy would suffer, lives could be lost to take drugs and un-employment as industry would likely close shop and substandard goods that smugglers try to bring into the country”.
On how he copes with the challenges and pressures that come with the job, the Customs boss posited that, “every profession has its hazards”
“On assumption of office for effective operations, he has comprehensively refurbished seven abandoned boats in the command’s fleet including purchase of engines for 3 double-engine boats thereby making them safer and more reliable on water. Five Toyota Hilux patrol vans have also been refurbished. The CGC has also provided two world class bullet-proof gun boats, each equipped with 3 generators and with speed of about 28.5 nautical which makes them the fastest in West Africa.
Officers and men have also been trained on the use of AK 47 riffles, a more sophisticated gun than that of the smugglers.
He noted that,” modern communication gadgets and capacity to stay up to 30 days comfortably on high sea with about 26 men. With these levels of commitments from the management, the job is much easier and result-oriented.
The Area Controller while speaking on a seizure made reaffirmed the command’s resolve to protect the nation’s economy and security always by deploying all logistics and personnel of the command to forestall any attempt to smuggle, evade duty, and under declare imports.
“Our men are up to the task and will rise to any challenges aimed at undermining our presence on the water ways. We have deployed all the logistics provided for our use by the headquarters and our personnel have been mandated to reinvigorate our round the clock patrols with the bullet proof boats and vehicles provided for us by the Customs management.
He continued, “Our men are out to justify the trust and confidence reposed on us by not compromising our positions no matter the degree of blackmails and inducement which are antics of persons perpetrating illegality,” Umar said.
He explained further that plans are on going to organize a stakeholders forum to sensitize various industry players on the ills of smuggling and the need to prevent a situation when their communities are used as storage or transit base for smugglers and other perpetrators of trans-border illegalities.
It was revealed that investigation are ongoing to track down persons connected with the seized wooden boat load of rice and get them prosecuted which will be a signal to all smuggling barons and sponsors of this anti economic acts to take a caution.
He said the value of the above 2000 bags of parboiled rice was yet to be ascertained by Customs Valuation Unit of the Command.
Meanwhile, three Officers of the Command namely, Senu Suru Mark, Rasaq Muhammed Jamiu and Musa Ibrahim Idris sustained various degree of injuries when they were attacked by dire hard smugglers as they fought gallantly to ferry the giant boat and its contents.
Nkpemenyie Mcdominic, Lagos
The former President of the Nigeria Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), Dr. Eugene Nweke, has said that only a political will would make the 24-hour port operations achievable.
Nweke made the disclosure during the Fifth Town Hall meeting organised by JournalNG held in Lagos on Thursday.
“24 hour port operations is achievable if government would give a clear order to the effect.
“Government should get a regulatory agency to supervise port operations accurately for monitoring and evaluation.
“Once everyone knows what to do, operators will be guided. It will not be a situation where government issues port order without monitoring and no enforcement.
“So, we need a political will to drive our ports for 24-hour port operations in Nigeria”, Nweke said.
He said government agencies should see the transformation as a necessity, same as port stakeholders.
Nweke continued that collaboration and partnership among stakeholders would enable both government and port users achieve 24-hour port operations.
He said any identified bottlenecks delaying the achievement of 24 hours ports operations should be removed and sanctioned accordingly.
He noted that port communities are meant for commercial activities, adding that necessary infrastructure should be considered in the ports to avoid unnecessary human element.
Nweke urged government to improve on infrastructure to make the ports more attractive and friendly for customers.
Also in his presentation, the Chairman, Nigeria Ports Consultative Council (NPCC), Mr. Bolaji Sunmola, said quest to actualise 24-hour port operations in Nigerian seaports was no longer aspirational but necessary.
He said with a carefully sequenced strategy anchored on technology, sustainability, and stakeholder alignment, Nigerian ports could be positioned as efficient, secure, and economically transformative assets.
As Chairman of NPCC, he reaffirmed commitment to this vision by inviting all stakeholders-MDAS, port terminal operators, energy providers, transport unions, and investors to join in executing this transformation.
The Assistant Comptroller, Nigeria Customs Service (NSC), Abass Oladepo, said Customs had been operating 24 hours port operations.
He said at Ports and Terminal Multi Services Ltd. (PTML) command the Customs had commenced 2-hour cargo clearance, adding that averagely in one-year the Command had achieved less than 6-hour ports clearance.
The town hall meeting was to sensitise stakeholders on Customs transformation known as B’Odogwu and urge importers to engage in honest declaration to enable them achieve few minutes cargo clearance.
In his contribution, the Managing Director, ENL Consortium, one of the terminal operators, Mr. Mark Walsh, urged Nigeria banks attached to ports cargo clearance operations to improve their operation to avoid delays in payments.
He commended the Federal Government and the Nigerian Ports Authority for modernising the ports, adding that there was need for 24-hour lighting at the ports, to stop them from running generators 24/7.
He noted that ports operation needs more lighting, especially for security during the night operations.
The General Manager, Trade Modernisation Project (TMP), Mr. Ahmed Ogunsola, urged stakeholders to collaborate and point out challenges hampering 24 hour port operations to provide solutions.
Ogunsola said TMP worked with the NCS to enhance cargo clearance by providing technology backbone, building capacity and to enhance sustainability.
He said 24 hour port operations was achievable with the collaboration of port users.
“The TMP had agreement with the Federal Government to provide 67 scanners and presently we have successfully brought five scanners into the country to modernise Nigeria Customs Service and facilitate trade”, Ogunsola said.
In his opening remarks, the Publisher, JournalNG magazine, Mr. Ismail Aniemu, said the forum gave the stakeholders opportunity to interact and come with recommendations to guide government in policy making.
Aniemu said many ports in Nigeria need to turn to smart ports, adding that Nigeria had competent expertise that would assist government to actualise the dream.
He said some of the port users were operating 24 hours and there was need fornit to be sustained collectively.
Local rice merchants, under the aegis of Rice Millers, Importers and Distributors of Nigeria (RMIDN) have expressed displeasure over the upsurge in the smuggling of rice into the country through neighbouring Cotonou, Benin Republic.
According to RMIDN, Nigeria has lost an estimated N60 billion as a result of rice smuggling.
“Mostly Indian and Thailand rice that are imported into Cotonou find their way into Nigeria illegally with Western Creeks serving as gateway to the highest degree of these illicit imports”, RMIDN said.
Speaking exclusively with The Tide in Lagos, the Chief Executive Officer, Bayuf Farm limited, Chief Kabiru Idowu, noted the large scale concealment in trucks purportedly laden with dutiable goods to the fleet of vehicles under the cover of darkness, saying “Western Marine Creeks, is indeed a place to watch, if the economy of the nation must be protected”.
According to him, “the volume of imports for which revenue is lost on the part of the government may far outweigh the generated revenue and create an adverse affect on government policy to encourage local production of some products.
“It would also be recalled that in December, 2024, the Customs Area Controller, Federal Operations Unit, Compt. Kola Oladeji, disclosed to journalists at a briefing in the Command that smuggling of rice through the Western Creeks is on the increase, thereby placing a question mark on the proficiency of the Marine Command of the Customs.
According to him, the areas of water which flows into the land accounts for a higher degree of rice smuggling, adding that there is inlet through water behind Alaba market where smugglers are coming, with various items but with rice topping the lists.
Also, Mr. Tapenu Michael noted that importers of Nigeria bound goods through the Cotonou Port see the western waterways as most viable entry point either for evasion or concealment of prohibited items.
He emphasized that most items that fall under Federal Government import prohibition list or statutory barred from entering the country through land borders find their ways through the creeks.
The Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) has issued an urgent call to the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) management and handlers of the eto electronic call-up system, urging immediate action to address what they describe as unfriendly policies hampering the direct delivery of cargo from the Lagos Port.
According to the Chairman of NARTO Metropolitan Unit, Abdullahi Moh’d Inuwa, the new policies under the eto call-up system have led to significant delays in truck approvals and discouraged truck operators from servicing the port.
“Direct delivery of cargo requires between 48 to 54 trucks daily per vessel, and with multiple vessels, at least 120 to 150 trucks are needed.
“However, the current approval process is slow, and many truckers now prefer loading outside the port due to the multiple levies and restrictions imposed”, Inuwa stated.
He warned that these developments threaten the business interests of consignees and importers, with many considering diverting cargo to other ports.
“Trucks are being forced to offload inside sheds, incurring extra charges and demurrage, which are eventually passed on to end users. Despite government efforts to reduce duties on agricultural products, the call-up process remains a major bottleneck”, he added.
The trucker said prompt intervention is crucial to restore confidence and ensure the smooth evacuation of cargo, which is vital for Nigeria’s import-dependent economy.
Truckers and port users have repeatedly complained about extortion by security agencies, racketeering in the call-up system, and policy inconsistencies that have resulted in gridlock, delays, and financial losses.
Industry sources confirm that the current system often favors certain operators, leaving others stranded and forcing importers to pay exorbitant fees to favours revalidate delivery orders.
NARTO is calling for a review of the eto call-up system to ensure fairness and efficiency, warning that continued inefficiencies could lead to further congestion, trade disruptions, and a shift of cargo traffic away from Apapa Port.
The association also appealed to security agencies to stop the harassment and extortion of truck drivers, and urged the NPA to harmonize safety requirements to avoid multiple taxation.
By: Stories by Nkpemenyie Mcdominic, Lagos