The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS)
has approved a new procedure for the disposal of seized and overtime goods in
its bid to address some of the perceived irregularities relating to the past
procedure including fake online auctions, reports ITRealms.
Information reaching our news room
indicated that NCS confirmed its setting up four different committees to handle
the disposal of these categories of goods, namely the committees on Assessment,
Disposal, Seizure and Overtime respectively.
Also confirmed this, the
Comptroller-General of Customs, Col. Hammed Ali (rtd), said perishable items
with or without defendants are to be properly disposed of by the relevant
committee.
For goods classified as general
goods, the new guidelines stated that these are to be disposed of after
condemnation by a competent court of law: “Condemnation shall be done after 30
days of seizure, so far as there is no notice of claim or litigation.”
The guidelines also stipulated that
all overtime cargoes are to be published in the Federal Government’s gazette
when they fall due over 30 days.
Under the new dispensation, the NCS
will advertise information on seized and overtime goods for disposal with their
reserve prices in the media and on its official website. The authorities
enjoined interested buyers to apply online, specifying items of interest to the
committee on disposal, adding that applications must be accompanied with an
approved means of identification such as a National Identity card,
International Passport or Driver’s Licence, in addition to a recent passport
photograph scanned onto the dedicated portal on the website.
He explained that the guidelines showed
that successful applicants will be required to make payment within 14 days of
notification through designated banks at the area commands where the goods are
domiciled. Any returns on disposals would need to be rendered to the
Comptroller-General not later than 21 days after completion of each
exercise. The NCS however pointed out that the Disposal Committee, subject
to the approval of the Comptroller-General, might use its discretion in handling
peculiar cases.
The Assessment Committee shall
consist of not less than five officers of high integrity including valuation
officers at all area commands supervised by the Zonal Co-ordinator. The
committee shall undertake inspection, collation and fixing of prices of all
goods on monthly basis and is to forward its report to the Auction Committee.
The guidelines also tasked the Seizure Committee and Overtime Committee with
the responsibility of handling the disposal of overtime and seized goods. “The
Seizure Committee shall comprise of representatives of all departments of the
NCS, including representatives of headquarters not below the rank of assistant
controllers or its equivalent,” the guidelines stated.
The Overtime Committee on the other
hand will be made up of 16 members and consist of the Assistant Comptroller
General Enforcement, representatives from Director, Legal (NCS), Federal
Ministry of Finance, Independent Corrupt Practices Commission, civil
organization, National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control
(NAFDAC) and a representative from the Accountant General of the Federation’s
office. Others include a representative each from the National Security
Adviser, Directorate of Security Services, Valuation (NCS), Secretary to the
Government of the Federation, Nigeria Ports Authority, Police, Economic and
Financial Crimes Commission, Standards Organisation of Nigeria and Chief of
Defence Staff.
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