EXCLUSIVE: Customs CG, Adeniyi Stops Multiple Alerts on Cargoes, Threatens to Sanction Erring Officers

Customs Comptroller General, Wale Adeniyi
—Urges Officers to Prioritize Trade Facilitation
By DAPO OLAWUNI
In a significant policy shift, the Comptroller-General of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, has ordered an end to indiscriminate alerts on cargoes, emphasizing the importance of prioritizing trade facilitation.
This directive, dated November 6, was issued via a circular with reference number NCN/T&T/DCG/HQ/S52/Volume III and signed by Deputy Comptroller-General CK Niagwan on behalf of the customs CG.
The Customs CGC highlights the persistence of officers disregarding previous directives against indiscriminate alerts on cargoes, a practice that has reportedly created barriers to efficient trade.
“It has come to the notice of Headquarters that despite previous circulars on indiscriminate intervention alerts, some officers have totally disregarded this directive,” the CGG stated, underscoring the agency’s frustration with ongoing non-compliance.
With the Nigerian Customs Service aiming to maintain its 100% ranking in the Third-Party Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) Verification, Adeniyi urged officers to act in alignment with Nigeria’s trade goals.
“In view of the Third-Party PEBEC Verification ranking stage and the need for the Service to sustain the 100% ranking, officers are advised to prioritize trade facilitation and desist from being impediments to trade due to incessant alerts,” he said.
To ensure a streamlined approach, the directive assigns specific alert responsibilities to select officers. “For the purpose of emphasis, only Deputy Comptrollers of Revenues and Valuations should be responsible for alerts,” the circular clarifies.
“It is the responsibility of the DC Revenue to handle alerts relating to misclassification, while the DC Valuation shall handle those relating to value infractions.”
Moreover, Adeniyi’s directive strictly prohibits multiple alerts on a single declaration. “On no account should a declaration have more than one alert inputted,” the circular mandates, adding that any additional units must coordinate with the DC Revenue to address infractions.
The Comptroller-General’s warning concludes with a call for strict enforcement, directing Customs Area Controllers to monitor compliance among officers.
“All Customs Area Controllers are directed to ensure that officers comply strictly with this directive, as any officer found to violate this directive shall be sanctioned in line with Rule 100301 (L) of the PSR,” the document emphasizes.
Adeniyi expressed commitment to reducing delays at ports and streamlining the customs process, fostering a more trade-friendly environment in line with Nigeria’s broader economic reforms.
This should imply to customs at Onne port because those ones do it with pleasure and tell you to bring outrageous amount of money