Customs Area Controller tasks trading public on honest declaration, says no room for revenue loss
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| Compt. Willy Egbudin, CAC Apapa Area Command |
The new
Controller in charge of Apapa Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service(NCS)
Comptroller Willy Egbudin says he has settled to a work strategy to uphold the integrity of the flagship
command, especially in revenue generation and trade facilitation.
Controller in charge of Apapa Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service(NCS)
Comptroller Willy Egbudin says he has settled to a work strategy to uphold the integrity of the flagship
command, especially in revenue generation and trade facilitation.
In this
interview, Egbudin said the command would ensure enforcement of honest declaration
of cargoes to ensure the Federal Government did not lose revenue to some people
who may not want to comply with the set rules.
interview, Egbudin said the command would ensure enforcement of honest declaration
of cargoes to ensure the Federal Government did not lose revenue to some people
who may not want to comply with the set rules.
He talked
about the need for weekly close monitoring of activities at the terminals in
terms of the containers received and revenue generated, while ensuring that
work equipment are maintained for effective service delivery.
about the need for weekly close monitoring of activities at the terminals in
terms of the containers received and revenue generated, while ensuring that
work equipment are maintained for effective service delivery.
“Staff
motivation is generally taken care of by the service, but we will continue to
encourage disciplined and well-dressed officers by way of commendations,” he
said.
motivation is generally taken care of by the service, but we will continue to
encourage disciplined and well-dressed officers by way of commendations,” he
said.
The
controller says he has also strategised on how to develop and maintain a
cordial working relationship with the freight forwarders among other needs.
controller says he has also strategised on how to develop and maintain a
cordial working relationship with the freight forwarders among other needs.
On strategy to ensure achievement of
revenue target
revenue target
He
appreciates the effective structure of the immediate past controller of the
command and will maintain and build on that structure as he notes, “Revenue
generation is very key in the Nigeria customs service because that is one of
our core responsibilities as an agency of government.
appreciates the effective structure of the immediate past controller of the
command and will maintain and build on that structure as he notes, “Revenue
generation is very key in the Nigeria customs service because that is one of
our core responsibilities as an agency of government.
“If you look
at it, Apapa Area Command is the flagship of the customs. If Apapa is getting
it right that means other commands will get it right, because we generate
almost 50 per cent of the revenue in the service due to the Federal Government.
So, we must ensure that Apapa Area Command as the flagship gets it right always.”
at it, Apapa Area Command is the flagship of the customs. If Apapa is getting
it right that means other commands will get it right, because we generate
almost 50 per cent of the revenue in the service due to the Federal Government.
So, we must ensure that Apapa Area Command as the flagship gets it right always.”
He said that
in spite of not meeting the target, the 2015 revenue generated by the command
was impressive, adding that “To get an impressive revenue, we will ensure that
there is compliance with the rules, because without compliance it will be
difficult.”
in spite of not meeting the target, the 2015 revenue generated by the command
was impressive, adding that “To get an impressive revenue, we will ensure that
there is compliance with the rules, because without compliance it will be
difficult.”
At a maiden
meeting, he briefed the heads of units and terminals that maximum revenue must
be generated for the government and the strategy would be by giving a weekly
report on activities at the terminals.
meeting, he briefed the heads of units and terminals that maximum revenue must
be generated for the government and the strategy would be by giving a weekly
report on activities at the terminals.
“The
activities need to include the number of containers that they received in their
terminals, then the number of SGDs received within that week, revenue generated
from the containers and the SGDs, also what has been the intervention in terms
of DN.
activities need to include the number of containers that they received in their
terminals, then the number of SGDs received within that week, revenue generated
from the containers and the SGDs, also what has been the intervention in terms
of DN.
“Because we
know that the trading public may not be fully compliant with the rules, so
there must be infractions here and there.
We expect that the Deputy Controllers or Assistant Controllers in charge
of all those terminals or units should be able to generate revenue in terms of
intervention by DN.”
know that the trading public may not be fully compliant with the rules, so
there must be infractions here and there.
We expect that the Deputy Controllers or Assistant Controllers in charge
of all those terminals or units should be able to generate revenue in terms of
intervention by DN.”
On the need for effective scanners
He said the
fixed scanners were functioning well, but the mobile scanners were having
challenges. According to him, the fixed scanners, which can scan over 500
containers daily,were reliable for good work outputcurrently, while officers
who were hitherto trained were taking charge of maintaining them.
fixed scanners were functioning well, but the mobile scanners were having
challenges. According to him, the fixed scanners, which can scan over 500
containers daily,were reliable for good work outputcurrently, while officers
who were hitherto trained were taking charge of maintaining them.
On sustaining staff motivation
The
Controller said that as in every establishment, which the customs service is
not an exception, there are reward systems for those who are hardworking and a
way of sanctioning those who are not complying.
Controller said that as in every establishment, which the customs service is
not an exception, there are reward systems for those who are hardworking and a
way of sanctioning those who are not complying.
He said, “We
have a robust welfare system in the service generally that officers from time
to time get commendations for doing well and at the command level.
have a robust welfare system in the service generally that officers from time
to time get commendations for doing well and at the command level.
“I have told
the officers that I will commend officers who do well; if you raise substantial
DN, we will write a letter to Abuja so that they will be recognised and we have
that in place already. I have also told them about being well- dressed, because
discipline is the bedrock of any successful organization.
the officers that I will commend officers who do well; if you raise substantial
DN, we will write a letter to Abuja so that they will be recognised and we have
that in place already. I have also told them about being well- dressed, because
discipline is the bedrock of any successful organization.
“I told them
that smartly dressed officers would be recognised and we will be checking that
at every parade. Because if you are well dressed, it shows that you are
disciplined and once you are disciplined you will be focused and know that you
need to comply with the extant laws of the service.
that smartly dressed officers would be recognised and we will be checking that
at every parade. Because if you are well dressed, it shows that you are
disciplined and once you are disciplined you will be focused and know that you
need to comply with the extant laws of the service.
“We will
look the best dressed officer and flag his picture everywhere to let people
know that this man is the best dressed officer. Also, any officer that does
something that is worth noting we will do that. We will be writing letters to
Abuja to commend such officers.
look the best dressed officer and flag his picture everywhere to let people
know that this man is the best dressed officer. Also, any officer that does
something that is worth noting we will do that. We will be writing letters to
Abuja to commend such officers.
“While I was
at the headquarter, I had experienced times
when we wrote commendation letters to officers in the field to encourage
them that management appreciates what they were doing.
at the headquarter, I had experienced times
when we wrote commendation letters to officers in the field to encourage
them that management appreciates what they were doing.
“ There are
also sanctions for those who do contrary to the proper thing. I have told the
officers if anyone connives with any agent to defraud the Federal Government or
deprive the federal government of its revenue, they will not be spared. Such
cases will be investigated and taken to Abuja for further action,” he said.
also sanctions for those who do contrary to the proper thing. I have told the
officers if anyone connives with any agent to defraud the Federal Government or
deprive the federal government of its revenue, they will not be spared. Such
cases will be investigated and taken to Abuja for further action,” he said.
Relationship with freight forwarders
He
recognised that Freight forwarders were critical part of the service, the
reason they are operating. He said that as Area Controller in other places, he
instituted regular meetings where the agents were made to understand the need
to be transparent and honest in their declarations to avoid delays in their
jobs.
recognised that Freight forwarders were critical part of the service, the
reason they are operating. He said that as Area Controller in other places, he
instituted regular meetings where the agents were made to understand the need
to be transparent and honest in their declarations to avoid delays in their
jobs.
He tells
freight forwarders, “If you are transparent and declare correctly what you have
in your container, any officer who extorts you just let me know and such person
will be dealt with. But when you are not compliant with the rules, you will be
dragged on and you have yourself to blame.”
freight forwarders, “If you are transparent and declare correctly what you have
in your container, any officer who extorts you just let me know and such person
will be dealt with. But when you are not compliant with the rules, you will be
dragged on and you have yourself to blame.”
He
encouraged compliant freight forwarders not to be afraid of anything as long as
they did the right thing, but warned that those who are not honest would have
problems with the command.
encouraged compliant freight forwarders not to be afraid of anything as long as
they did the right thing, but warned that those who are not honest would have
problems with the command.
On overtime cargoes
The CAC said
the command would continue to work by the set procedure for treating overtime
cargo, stating that the dwell time of any container is 28 days by the rules,
even though for one reason or the other, some people may not be able to turn up
to clear their consignment within that period.
the command would continue to work by the set procedure for treating overtime
cargo, stating that the dwell time of any container is 28 days by the rules,
even though for one reason or the other, some people may not be able to turn up
to clear their consignment within that period.
He said that
after a specific period, he would draw up a UCL(uncleared cargo list) and
forward it to Abuja, and Abuja will request that such containers be transferred
to Ikorodu.
after a specific period, he would draw up a UCL(uncleared cargo list) and
forward it to Abuja, and Abuja will request that such containers be transferred
to Ikorodu.
He will work with the terminal operators and request that they transfer all containers
that are due to Ikorodu.
that are due to Ikorodu.
“We also
want them to know that while we are talking of revenue generation, we are also
very keen on trade facilitation because we know time is important in business.
want them to know that while we are talking of revenue generation, we are also
very keen on trade facilitation because we know time is important in business.
“If you
delay in clearing your containers the cost will definitely be added because timeliness
on all sides will help businesses, so, I will encourage facilitation of
legitimate trade,” Egbudin said.
delay in clearing your containers the cost will definitely be added because timeliness
on all sides will help businesses, so, I will encourage facilitation of
legitimate trade,” Egbudin said.
