The Nigeria Customs Service has said that many officers are undergoing different disciplinary cases.
The National Public Relations Officer of NSC, Abdullahi Maiwada, while featuring on a television programme on Wednesday, said that some officers of the service who were found with arms and ammunition inside the seaports in 2017 had been dismissed and were being prosecuted.
Maiwada did not, however, disclose the names of the affected officers.
“A lot of officers are undergoing disciplinary cases. Some who were found to be with arms and ammunition some years back in the port have been dismissed from the service and handed over to relevant agencies for prosecution.
“We have laid down procedures and punishments to ensure punitive measures on those who are not doing well. I think we need to balance between carrot and stick. It is not only about punishment, but it is about having an equilibrium when it comes to somebody who is doing very well and someone who has failed in his responsibility,” he asserted.
The customs image maker said that the service has compensation packages for rewarding those who have worked hard.
“For instance, those who intercepted tramadol and other drugs at Tincan Island were commended by the Controller General of Customs. Those who intercepted fake dollars at Seme were commended. Those who intercepted arms at Ports & Terminal Multipurpose Limited and Apapa have also been commended.
“We have a reward mechanism and I prefer using reward and punishment, not only punishment because the reward will motivate others to be better while punishment will serve as a deterrent for others,” he said.
Maiwada also said that the NCS prioritises service delivery over revenue generation.
On the issue of bureaucracy in the clearing of goods at the ports, Maiwada said that there are many agencies involved in the process and it is the synergy in the operations of these agencies that will enhance trade.
“The harmony we have within the sub-system, the automation and the simplification in the processes of clearing your goods, and the infrastructures required to move the items out of the ports are important. So we are working assiduously with all the relevant stakeholders to ensure a smooth flow of trade within and out of Nigeria.”
According to him, “We have made deliberate efforts to make sure that all these bottlenecks are no more in the system of clearance,” he said.