The Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Adewale Adeniyi, has said the tenure extension of some top officers in the agency followed due process.
Adeniyi affirmed that he would appear today (Tuesday) before the National Assembly to address the extension of service tenure for officers who were expected to retire.
Reports filtered through that several senior officials of the Customs, who had reached the end of their service tenure, were granted extensions after an alleged lobbying process.
The extension, which will last a year, disrupted the rank-and-file of the Customs, as it would impede career progression.
The House of Representatives Committee on Public Petitions, after it considered a petition by the Obasi-Pherson Help Foundation on the controversial tenure extension last week, invited the Customs Comptroller General to appear before it on Tuesday, February 18, 2025.
Answering questions from journalists during an official visit to the Kwara State command headquarters in Ilorin, on Monday, Adeniyi said, “We will be at the National Assembly tomorrow; we already have our facts.
“We don’t manufacture papers. Anything that we do, we have approval for it. We are an agency guided by the rule of law and once we know we are operating on the right side of the law, we have nothing to fear.”
Adeniyi confirmed that the approval for the extension of service for the affected officers was given by President Bola Tinubu, after a proper process.
“The Controller of Customs, Kwara State command, Faith Ojeifo, who has performed creditably well during his tenure on duty, is among the officers who got the approval to stay on in service, with an extension that was properly processed and approved by the President.
“We will not allow anybody to operate outside the provision of the law. We will be there to explain everything to them,” he added.
Speaking on the fight against oil smuggling in the country, the Customs boss asked authorities to engage the public.
He asserted that smuggling constituted a danger to the country, adding that all measures would be put in place to check the menace and bring culprits to book according to the law.
He said the Service had intensified efforts to curb the smuggling of petrol, recording major seizures under Operation Whirlwind in Kwara State.
The service, reiterating its stance, announced on Monday that between January 14 and February 11, 2025, NCS operatives intercepted over 53,000 litres of PMS, with a total Duty Paid Value of N53m.
According to him, the global price of petroleum, as of February 10, 2025, was sold at N1,184.83 per litre in Nigeria, compared to N1,680.32 per litre in Benin and N2,030.89 per litre in Cameroon.
“The significant price difference has encouraged large-scale smuggling, creating a black market economy that deprives Nigeria of critical resources.”
“This is not just about revenue loss; it is about economic sabotage. Every litre smuggled out of Nigeria is a litre that could have powered local industries, facilitated transportation, and supported small businesses.” the CGC added.
Giving the statistics on the seizures between January 14 and February 11, Adeniyi stated that the Service, on January 14, seized 94 jerry cans (2,350 litres) of PMS at Gure Road, valued at N2.35m.
“On February 5, 162 jerry cans (4,050 litres) of PMS were intercepted at Kayama forest in a Nissan Pickup (MHA556FD), driven by Nafiu Salami (now under administrative bail), with a DPV of N4.05m. February 11: 33,000-litre tanker truck intercepted along Siya Buriya road, valued at N33m,” he added.
He, however, noted that significant results had been achieved in the efforts to curb oil smuggling through the use of advanced technology by the agency.
“With about 17 land borders in the country, the fight against petroleum smuggling, among others, would require more advanced technology and involvement of the critical stakeholders,” he said.(Punch)
