The Senate Tuesday, adopted a motion to investigate the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) to identify and block drain pipes in the agency.
Industry observers say the twist seems to be an indictment on the activities of Mr. hameed Ali who President Muhammadu Buhari drafted in from outside the agency to head the system with a mandate to reform, renew and re position the Nigerian Customs.
But the Senate President, relying on latest development in the agency has said “that place is stinking; just last week we heard the former Customs boss returned one billion naira. The NCS should be investigated”.
During the debate, other Senators who commented on the motion said it was time to look at the books of the NCS.
They agreed that the NCS should be investigated in order to identify leakages and irregularities leading to dwindling revenues.
Earlier while leading debate on the motion, Alfa said, “The revenue shortfall is as a result of unwholesome fraudulent trade malpractices, under declaration, abuse of fiscal policies concealment, over and under invoicing, force declaration of value and wrong classification.”
While urging the Senate to invoke legislative action in creating an enabling environment that sees the NCS thrive and in effect dramatically increase the revenue accruable to the country, he also canvassed for multiple revenue sources to augment the dwindling oil revenue.
Senator Shehu Sani expressed concern over the low volume of trade and commerce in the country, saying “The Nigerian Customs Service is not a mere paramilitary body; it is an agency of the government specifically established to generate revenue for the country.
“We sit here and talk about budget and others, and the Customs sit there doing nothing.
Efforts to get the reaction of the Public Relations Officer of Customs, Mr. Wale Adeniyi failed as at press time.
