Nigerian Customs Comptroller General, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR paid a stopover visit to the Zonal HQ/Area 1 Command Port Harcourt on Thursday 5 September 2024
The Comptroller General of Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), Wale Adeniyi has given a comprehensive update on the enforcement activities of the Service, in pursuit of ensuring the security, health, and economic well-being of our great nation.
Addressing the media on Wednesday, he explained that “In the past year, Nigeria has faced unprecedented challenges in a bid to deliver the dividend democracy and good governance under the visionary leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“The Nigeria Customs Service, in alignment with this administration’s progressive policies, adopted fresh approach towards fulfilling our mandate of balancing revenue collection, facilitating trade and ensuring compliance with the relevant laws. We have moved from a reactive lance to a proactive posture, from isolated efforts to integrated strategies. and from a purely enforcement-driven approach to one that balances compliance facilitation with robust security measures.
3 Our new strategy is multifaceted, focusing on consolidating previous gains, fostering unprecedented collaboration with stakeholders, and integrating cuttingedye innovations into our operations. We are rewriting the playbook on revenue coliection. trade facilitation, and regulatory compliance, all while strengthening our role as the vanguard against societal threats. This evolution aims to serve the best interests of Nigeria especially in these times of economic adjustment, where our citizens grapple with inflationary pressures triggered by efforts to manage exchange rate challenges. We now lean more towards persuasion than punishment, employing soft power over hard-line tactics. This strategy is necessary considering the current realities faced by Nigerians. However, | want to emphasize that our resolve to protect Nigeria’s borders and interests remains in on clad. We are more re-positioned than ever to adopt a more carrot-oriented approach in carrying out our operations, using soft power rather than a hardcore stick approach.
- ‘the challenges we face are formidable and multifaceted. Unscrupulous elements seck to exploit our current economic situation, engaging in smuggling activities that threaten the very fabric of our society. From arms and anmunition to narcotics, from restricted pharmaceuticals to staple foods, and even to our precious fuel resources – the spectium of illicit trade is vast and varied. What is even more disturbing is the fact that these activities have been linked to clusters of criminal networks that seck to cause hari to Nigerians.
- The scale and sophistication of these illicit activities are alarming. Since 2018 the NCS has intercepted 20 significant shipments, comprising 10,498 pieces of various arms and 114,929 pieces of ammunition, with an estimated Duty Paid Value (DPV) of 9.58 billion Naira. Notably, 60% of these seizures occurred within the past year alone, This recent surge accounts for 34.67% of the total DPV, 20.58% of the arms seized, and a staggering 99.62% of the ammunition intercepted over the six-year period. These statistics not only highlight the intensification of our efforts but also reveal the evolving tactics employed b, smugglers attempting to breach our borders, In response to this escalating threat. we recently declared a state of emergency, particularly following significant seizures of restricted goods, including pharmaceuticals and medicaments. The intricate connections between these diverse smuggling activities and the networks facilitating them are now the primary focus of our strategic operations, such as Operation Whirlwind and Operation Swift Sting. These among other initiatives represent the multifaceted approach adopted by NCS to fortify our operations and safeguard Nigeria’s health and security interests.
- Of particular concern is the alarming rise in wildlife trafficking, which not only threatens our biodiversity but also tarnishes Nigeria’s international reputation. The illegal trade in endangered species, especially pangolin scales, has positioned Nigeria as a key transit point in the global wildlife trafficking network. This illicit trade decimates our natural heritage, fuels transnational criminal networks as well as undermines our national security and economic stability.
The embarrassment caused by these activities on the global stage is significant, potentially impacting our diplomatic relations and economic partnerships. It is imperative that we address this issue with the utmost urgency and commitment,
- Now, let me share with you the details of our recent enforcement activities: a. Wildlife Trafficking, Our recent operations have yielded significant results in combating the illegal trade of endangered species:
