Customs adopts new operating procedures, decries killing of officers

 

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has established a new Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for the implementation of Advance Ruling. This is coming as the NCS berated the unfortunate attacks that led to the death of two of its officers, and others severely injured.

The Chief Superintendent of Customs and National Public Relations Officer, Abdullahi Maiwada said that the basis for the SOP lies in Section 24 Sub-sections 1-9 of the new NCS Act, 2023, and Article 3 of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA).

According to him: “Advance Ruling is a concept wherein the Customs Administration provides a written decision upon request from the importer concerning valuation, tariff classification, or origin of goods before they are imported.”

This move, he said, aligns with the principles outlined in the Revised Kyoto Convention of 2006 and the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement of 2017.

“Advance Ruling has been proven as a valuable tool for trade facilitation, benefiting both Customs administration and traders. It enhances predictability and certainty in Customs treatment for goods.

“This procedure also promotes cooperation and confidence between Customs and traders, following the guidelines set out by the World Customs Organisation Safe Framework of Standards,” he stated.

Meanwhile, two officers of the NSC were gruesomely murdered in Kebbi State by some alleged smugglers. The Assistant Superintendent of Customs II and Acting Public Relations Officer, Kebbi Area Command, Mubarak Mustapha, said that the officers; Alhaji Kabiru Shehu, an Inspector of Customs and Abdullahi Muhammad, a Customs Assistant II, paid the supreme price when the team was attacked along Bunza – Dakingari -Koko Road, and engaged with heavy gunfire by suspected bandits in an ash-coloured toyota corolla vehicle. He said that the Command has launched a manhunt for the suspects to arrest and prosecute them.

The Customs Area Area Controller, Comptroller Ben Oramalugo, commiserates with the officers’ families, praying that God grants them the fortitude to bear the loss. In another development, men of the Federal Operations Unit (FoU) Zone ‘B’ were attacked while on patrol duty to Dankama area of Katsina State.

“While carrying out statutory duty of anti-smuggling, some hoodlums suspected to be smugglers brutally attack officers with dangerous weapons inflicting several injuries to Inspector of Customs (IC) Haruna A,” he said. The Comptroller FOU ‘B’, Musa Ibrahim Jalo, has directed a full-scale investigation to fish out the perpetrators of the barbaric act.

(Guardian)