The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has wielded the sledge hammer against selected authorised dealer banks that have failed to meet Service-Level Agreements (SLAs) related to Customs Duty and statutory charge remittances.
The deactivated banks were alleged to have fallen below the required standard accurate and timely remittance of Customs duties and other essential funds for national development, according to a release signed by the National Public Relations Officer, Chief Superintendent of Customs, Abdullahi Maiwada.
The statement said the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Acting Comptroller General, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, in compliance with the drive for transparency in the conduct of government business has taken decisive action with the view to ensuring sanity in the system.
The decision is part of the processes for ”collaborative efforts with financial regulators and stakeholders to ensure the efficiency and integrity of the Customs Duty Collection system.
”This decision follows a thorough audit and due process, aligning with the NCS '’s commitment to upholding transparency, accountability, and efficiency in revenue collection. The primary objective is to ensure the accurate and timely remittance of Customs duties and other essential funds for national development”.
The Service has consequently advised importers who previously relied on the deactivated banks for duty payments to utilize other authorised dealer banks that comply with NCS regulations. It has equally urged stakeholders that may be encountering challenges with any particular bank to use alternative banks that are functioning appropriately.
Despite the deactivation of these banks, the statement said measures were being implemented to minimize disruptions for importers and stakeholders within the trading ecosystem, stressing the Comptroller General has assured the trading community that all pending assessments will undergo clearance processes in line with international best practices.
Speaking further on the deactivation of the banks, the NCS said the action underscores the NCS'’s commitment to maintaining a fair and transparent customs revenue collection process.
The NCS also noted that it places a high priority on trade facilitation, putting stakeholders and Nigerian citizens first, even in the face of non-compliance by some authorized dealer banks.
Meanwhile, the Acting Comptroller General has approved key appointments and redeployment within the service to ensure operational efficiency.
Consequently, Comptrollers Florence Nanu Ogar-Modey and Queen Ogbudu have been appointed Acting Assistant Comptroller Generals Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) and Zonal Coordinator Zone B, respectively.
Other Comptrollers redeployed to various Customs formations include Compt. Jaiyeoba Jide from Oyo/Osun Area Command to Apapa Area Command, Compt. Dera Nnadi from Seme to Tin-Can Island Port, Compt. Timi Bomodi from KLTÂ to Seme, Compt. Ahmed Abe from PCA Zone ”C” to Kaduna Area Command and Compt. Babandede Mohammad from Lilypond Export Command to Lagos Free Trade Zone Command.
