.Beams searchlight on illegal berthing of ships<em

THE Comptroller General of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Col Hameed Ali (rtd) has accused some officers of allegedly facilitating midstream discharge of cargo and berthing of ships at illegal locations.

It was not clear as at press time if any Customs officer has been sanctioned over the alleged breach of the nation’s rules and regulations regarding the berthing of ships/vessels.

In a circular issued by Deputy Comptroller General (Exc.FTZ & Ind. Inc), G.O. Adeyemo , the Customs Boss said: “Intelligence reports reaching headquarters indicate some form of compromise by officers, where deliberate acts of impunity are perpetuated through illegal berthing of ships/vessels and mid-stream discharge of cargo other than officially designated Customs Ports despite existing circulars.

“In effect, I am directed to re-iterate and convey the Comptroller-General of Customs directive on strict enforcement of the Extant Laws and circulars in that regard (Ref.S.12 (1) & (4) of the CEMA).

“That on no circumstance should any ship/vessel coming in from foreign, berth at any other place other than the conventional ports, first”.

The circular dated January 21, 2016 explained that where any of such ship/vessel is Free Zone bound or designate, “it shall set sail thereafter under official escort of the Enforcement Unit of the Command for further official processes”.

The circular titled: “Re: Reminder on illegal Berthing of Ships/Vessels & midstream discharge of cargo other than Customs Ports,” has been forwarded to all Deputy Comptroller Generals (DCGs), Assistant Comptroller Generals (ACGs), Zonal Coordinators, Customs Area Controllers, Controllers Federal Operations Unit (FOU A-D) and Controllers E & WM Commands.