Birnin-Kebbi said the inability of previous Comptrollers General of Customs to initiate the review of the Customs Act and other laws guiding the service to meet up current challenges was responsible for the stagnation and un-effective service delivery in the service. This he said led to corrupt practices among Customs operatives in the country.
“The situation was bad to the extent that foreign businessmen and women that want us to ship their contrabands into Nigeria will tell you that they have already arranged with senior Customs officials waiting at the port to receive and clear the goods for them. On arrival at any of the seaports in the country, you actually see such corrupt officers coming to receive and clear such goods for those smugglers. Sometimes you begin to wonder if we have Customs operatives in this country at all.
“The lack of effective and up-to-date Customs laws in the country and the weakness of the existing ones that provide fines of as low as N200 for serious Customs offences capable of threatening the nation’s revenue is what has been frustrating Customs officials. This made some of them to opt for corrupt practices.
“Nigeria Customs officers also lack the needed local training and do not have any form of foreign training to meet up with modern challenges. The present situation where smugglers carry more sophisticated arms and vehicles than Customs operatives is very risky.
