Customs CG; Dikko's Visit Paralyses Commercial Activities At Tin Can Port

Scores of freight forwarders who were yesterday locked out of
Tin Can Island Command of Customs for hours
during the visit of the Customs CG

• “I Remain Custom Boss”---CG Brags

Activities were placed on hold yesterday at the Tin Can Island Port when the Comptroller General of Customs (CGC); Alhaji Dikko Abdullahi Inde visited the Tin Can command of the service to update officers about take over of destination inspection from the service providers.
The visit was part of the CGC’s one-week long working tour of all commands in Lagos and series of sensitization meetings scheduled with stakeholders.
Scores of freight forwarders were spotted yesterday by Shipping Position Daily at the entrance of the Tin Can Custom command protesting under the scorching sun that they were not allowed to carry out their legitimate businesses for several hours. Some of the freight forwarders also complained of being harassed by officers of the Tin Can customs command.
Addressing officers of the command however, the Customs CG, Dikko dispelled rumors of his exit from the service, even as he bragged that he remains the Chief Executive Officer of the service.
"We have heard so much of the rumour, but we are managing it, don't let anything deceive you, you can see my management, we are all together, and it is together we worked out what you are seeing and enjoying today, there is only one management in Nigeria Custom Service and I am in charge" he said.
Dikko informed the officers that his visit to all commands in Lagos is to sensitize and inform them that the service has officially taken over destination inspection from the service providers.
The CG was quick to commend the Tin Can Island command for its revenue profile which according to him, has increased in the past four months, he however admonished 'one star' officers of the command whose conduct according to the CG is not encouraging.
"One star officers, I am hearing a very bad report from you, and from this ground you must promise that you will change because we will not allow anybody to bring us down", he charged.
"Anybody that does contrary or contravenes our revenue will put them out and keep the good ones for continuity" “Tin Can Island has changed, I wrote a commendation to you some time ago for overtaking your target”, he stated.
"As at yesterday (December 1) we have taken over our job from service providers, it is no longer a rumour, I am here with my ACGs and DCGs from headquarters to inform you that the challenge is on us and I am sure Tin Can Island will never let me down. With what I saw in the last four months, I can testify that Tin Can Island will carry the day"”he told the officers.

Dikko challenged the officers to ensure that they put in their best to ensure that the Pre-Arrival Assessment Report (PAAR) works out as planned.
He said that PAAR is about trade facilitation and that it will be issued before the arrival of the cargo so that the importer can finish the necessary ritual before the cargo arrives.
He consequently charged the officers that: "Nobody should cause the failure of this PAAR. I urge you to be of good behavior and show we are working together".
Speaking further, Dikko said that: "You are very much aware that our funding is hinged on the seven percent, the more revenue we collect, the more money we are going to have, the seven percent we are having now cannot take us anywhere, we are waiting on intervention fund and this is not forthcoming, but if you work hard I am going to assure you that the seven percent will be okay for us, plus the one percent that will come to us when these people go".
He assured the officers that the CEMA Bill is presently on the table of President Goodluck Jonathan and that the performance of officers will determine the signing of the law.
The CGC later visited the two scanning sites at the Tin Can Port to inspect the scanners and to determine the readiness of the officers of the Tin Can command.
The Customs boss is also billed to flag-off of the Pre-Arrival Assessment Report (PAAR) scheme and also launch the Nigeria Trade Hub Centre today during a town hall meeting with importers at the popular  Balogun Business Association (BBA) Market at the International Centre for Commerce (ICC), Lagos International Trade Fair Complex, Badagry Expressway, Ojo, Lagos.
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