Comptroller Ahmadu Bello Shuaibu, Controller of the Federal Operations Unit Zone B, operating from Kaduna, covering ten states plus the FCT told Ismail Aniemu how his anti smuggling strategies yielded over N10b worth of seizures whereas the unit made N1b seizures within same period of 2023.
Applying a combination of intelligence, collaboration with traditional and new partners with the application of uncompromising enforcement, Shuaibu has achieved seizures showing greater suppression of smuggling within his area of responsibility
Speaking on the sidelines of the recently concluded Comptroller General of Customs Conference in Abuja, Shuaibu said he is all out to make the Yuletide period tougher for smugglers leaving no room for their unlawful activities
Excerpt
Give us an overview of your Unit’s activities in the last 9 Months of 2024 comparing with 2023 figures in areas of revenue, seizures, arrests and convictions.
Thank you for this question Mr Aniemu. As you are aware that the Federal Operations Unit Zone B is an enforcement arm of the Nigeria Customs Service that is saddled with the responsibility of suppressing smuggling, and facilitation of trade in the Zone.
The Zone has a very wide area of responsibility that covers the states of Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Jigawa, Sokoto, Zamfara, Niger Kwara, Kogi and FCT Abuja controlling and supervising these areas focus, determination and use of intelligence are key in achieving success.
The Unit from January to September 2024 was able to make a total of 519 arrest/seizures of different offensive items ranging from endangered species, fertilizers, hides & skin, foreign sugar, beverages, cigarettes, narcotics, petroleum product, pharmaceutical products, used tyres and and what have you with the Duty Paid Value (DPV) of Ten Billion, Two Hundred and Sixty Four Million, Seven Hundred and Nineteen Thousand, Three Hundred and Fifty Eight Naira and Four Kobo ( N10,264,719,358.4 only compared to the DPV of last year (2023) of N 1,780,860,809.01 signifying about 476 % in value of Seizures.
One may be wondering why the increase in the year 2024, the answer is simple. When I assume the mantle of leadership of the Unit, we have a change of direction in how we operate, we deploy more of intelligence to make arrest because the Service of today is a knowledge driven and Intelligence-Based where less checkpoints are used, more of intelligence are applied to achieve result.
It was based on intelligence, the operatives of the Unit sometimes in May arrested products of endangered species (Pangolin Scales, Donkey Bones/Meats) worth over Seven Billion Naira (N7B). The important part of the operation of the Pangolin Scales was that, the operatives leverage on the intelligence and coordinates provided for them to storm the slaughter house in Zuru Area of Kebbi State to make such a arrest.
In terms of arrest of suspects from January to September 2024, the Unit apprehended 11 Suspects in connection with different Customs offences, whereas cases of some of the suspects have been finally disposed of, others are on administrative bail; waiting to be prosecuted.
Tell us how you have used physical and virtual engagements to promote trade facilitation.
You know suppressing of smuggling and trade facilitation are essential in Customs activities and operations. So, when I assumed the responsibility of the Unit, we analysed the processes and procedures of our operations and identified key areas that needed to be improved upon.
One of the key areas is collaboration and cooperation with relevant Government agencies as well as other Customs formations in the zone. The motive is to foster the existing partnership between the Unit and law enforcement agencies in the Zone.
We engaged with the youths through training programmes in collaboration with NGOs to create awareness on the risk and consequences of smuggling.
Another key area is the removal or reduction of multiple checkpoints to facilitate trade and ease of doing business in the Zone. The activities of the unit are streamlined according to international best practices, we ensure that the Operations of the Unit is far beyond mounting checkpoint because the NCS is knowledge based and intelligence-driven. We leverage on intelligence both local and otherwise to achieve desired goals.
At the Unit’s level, we also recognise and reward officers for exemplary performance in line with Section 278 of the NCS Act 23. It serves as motivation and ginger the Officers/Men of the Unit to give their best in achieving the mandate of the Unit.
We engage with media platforms to disseminate information and also leveraging on the social media platforms of the Service to reach a wider audience towards the Units anti-smuggling exploits.
These and other measures put in place by our leadership in promoting trade facilitation while achieving the mandate of suppression of smuggling thereby ensuring a secure and efficient trade environment.
To what extent have you engaged stakeholders in your area of responsibility.
Stakeholders engagement is key in achieving the success so far recorded by the Unit. Being an enforcement unit coupled with the insecurity in the Zone, the Unit cannot achieve success alone that is why after my assumption of office I embarked on familiarization visit of all the relevant Government Agencies and Traditional/Community leaders in the Zone.
The aim was to solidify the existing relationship between these agencies and the Unit and the traditional rulers to talk to their wards on the ills and negative effect of smuggling to the Nigerian economy.
As we all know smuggling is a canker-worm and criminal that if we did not kill it, it will affect the economy in a negative way, depriving the citizens with the dividend of democracy, creating un-employment and kills the nations industry among other vices.
That is why we leverage on the policy thrust of the Comptroller General of Customs, BashirAdewale Adeniyi MFR of consolidation Innovation and collaboration to achieve the mandate of the Unit.
Recently, the Unit in collaboration with the Red Cross Society of Nigeria, Kaduna North Division organized a 3-day retreat held at the National Teachers Institute (NTI) Kaduna as part of the CSR with a theme “Youth Involvement in Tackling Climate Change in our Community”.
The aim of the Unit participation in the retreat is to create awareness on the roles of Nigeria Customs Service in the nation building as well as for the youth to understand Smuggling as its consequences to the citizens and the country at large.
Tell us about stakeholders’ degree of compliance so far following your engagement. Is there an improvement from what it’s used to be?
Yes, I can say that the strategy put in place yielded positive result in terms of collaboration and sharing of intelligence to achieve desired objectives.
Also, Legitimate traders are complying with the standards and regulations of Customs procedures in line with international best practices.
However, while the Service is developing technology to create modern, secure and efficient ports and border system, smugglers are creating ways to defraud, evade and acquire illegal wealth but the Unit has been ever ready to dislodge them especially during the ember months and Yuletide period to arrest and take them out of business.
The operatives of the Unit would not relent on their efforts in suppressing smuggling no matter whose ox is gored. The task of salvaging the country from smuggling is a collective responsibility as we have no country other than Nigeria, all hands must be on deck to achieve the Nigerian project.
How has your operations benefitted from Traditional rulers and community leaders?
The collaboration with Traditional leaders and community leaders has assisted in creating awareness among the border community in the Zone. They have played a vital role by sharing information that would assist in supporting the operational activities of the Unit and communities in the Zone.
