Apapa Customs, ICPC, ACTU task officers on transparency, accountability 

The Apapa Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service in collaboration with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Anti-Corruption and Transparency Monitoring Unit (ACTU) have tasked officers of the command to be transparent and accountable in the discharge of their duties and shun all forms of corruption.

Speaking at a sensitisation programme tagged ‘Transparency and Accountability in Public Service’ held at the Apapa Customs Command in Lagos on Thursday, Controller of the Command, Comptroller Yusuf Malanta, said transparency and accountability has remained a critical issue due to corruption in the public sector, hence it is imperative to remind officers and stakeholders of the need to be transparent and accountable for their actions and inactions in the workplace as well as every sphere of life.

Comptroller Malanta noted that as part of efforts to ensure transparency and accountability, the Service has adopted automation of its processes and cargo clearance procedures, which has yielded improvements in trade efficiency.

He said, “As part of the Comptroller General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ali (Rtd) reform strategy, the Service is compelled to adopt diverse methods to ensure transparency and accountability by automating existing processes and procedures.

“Some of the technology deployed include but not limited to: the use of seamless port clearing procedures which differentiates between the trader and customs zones respectively. The use of Risk Management integrated tool for selectivity, based on the integrity of the importation.

“The use of artificial intelligence to select and assign examiners for cargo inspection. The use of Non-Intrusive Inspection Technology (NIIT) to conduct examinations using High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) to determine the content of a cargo and analyze images accordingly.

“The use of Trade Hub Portal (NTH) to disseminate information concerning import/export and transit trade.

“The use of e-auction sales for auctioning seized and condemned goods. This technology is deployed to suit our trade operating environment to encourage compliance in the trade supply chain and economic growth while increasing transparency and taking advantage of new technologies.

“As the lead agency in trade facilitation reforms, the Service is committed to constantly reinventing its strategies and adapting to present day challenges through partnering with other relevant government agencies in the port for effective ease of doing business which has yielded unmeasurable improvements in trade efficiency.

“I would like to use this opportunity once again to commend the existing and sustained synergy with our stakeholders and government operatives in Apapa Port.

“The need for synergy as a stimulant in collaboration and coordination cannot be overemphasized. Therefore, we are all enjoined to consolidate and foster this enviable relationship which is indeed a great example worthy of emulation.”

Comptroller Malanta charged senior officers at the event to go back to their terminals and units and transfer the knowledge they have received by mentoring young officers so that they can be more prepared to assume more advanced responsibilities in the future.

“If we continue organizing this seminar at the high level, it will not go anywhere without reaching the lower level. What kind of culture are we imbibing into our lower cadre officers?  You need to add value, no matter how small your area is, you should at least have a change of culture, attitude and mindset of your officers and try to be transparent. Share your views with officers and other stakeholders within your unit. You cannot do it alone,” he said.

Chairman, ICPC, Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye, represented by the Resident Commissioner, Lagos State, Mr Kabir Elelu, commended the efforts of Apapa Customs Command under the leadership of Comptroller Malanta in joining the fight against corruption.

He said the ICPC has seen how Apapa Customs has been striving to implement the policies put in place by the federal government in order to ease transactions at the ports.

“We have also seen how you are working tirelessly with the Port Standing Task Team (PSTT) which was setup by the federal government to ease and implement the ease of doing business at the port,” he added.

Mr Elelu noted that the National Ethics and Integrity policy initiated by the Commission was conceived out of the urgent need to resuscitate the lost values of integrity and honesty in the society.

“The state at which Nigeria is today with regards to corruption is as a result of the moral decadence we find in our society.

“Those values of yesteryears that we used to cherish have been eroded gradually and that is why we came together to initiate this policy which was adopted by the federal government. There are seven core values in the policy among which is Human Dignity, Voice and Participation, Patriotism, Personal Responsibility, Integrity, National Unity and Professionalism.

“The whole idea is that every Nigerian and foreigner doing business in Nigeria is expected to imbibe these values and preach it” he said.

In his presentation on inter-agency collaboration, representative of the Commandant, Nigerian Army School of Intelligence, Major M.G Joel, highlighted the imperative of information sharing among government  agencies.

He, however, noted that inter-agency rivalry has been one of the challenges bedeviling intelligence collaboration among government agencies.

According to him, inter agency rivalry not only destroys the spirit of cooperation amongst government agencies, but their morale and leads to breakdown of law and order.

On his part, former President of National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) Dr Eugene Nweke noted that Customs has channel its attention towards achieving transparency and accountability through modernization of its processes.

He, however, noted that Customs alone cannot achieve success as according to him, they need people’s support, partnerships and political support in line with the 3Ps of the World Customs Organization (WCO).

Photo caption:

Controller of the Apapa Area Command, Comptroller Yusuf Malanta (5th from left) flanked by resource persons at the sensitization programme held at the command in Apapa, Lagos on Thursday.