The Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) has been advised to employ undercover officers that will work underground to arrest erring officers of the service as a way to curb excessive corruption now glaring in the Service.
Mr Bankole Akande, a security expert told newsmen in Lagos, Wednesday that corruption at the seaports, airports and land borders by men of the service has hindered the president’s reforms and that there is need to nip corruption in the bud.
Advising the comptroller general of customs on the need to absorb some officials from State Security Service (SSS) into the service, the security expert added that, “corruption at the port is inevitable but can be reduced to the barest minimum if the customs boss can work with the SSS and with underground work most of the officers will fall victims. We all know that there is corruption in all sectors of the economy and that of the customs in alarming”, he said.
According to him, the 48 hours cargo clearance from the ports is possible but corrupt officers of the service have not been able to make it succeed.
The former navy officer also appealed to the federal government on revenue generation saying that the idea of revenue target also boils down to corruption.
He pointed that the revenue target given to strategic commands of the service has made officers to do what is not expected of them for impressing the Comptroller General of Customs, Alhaji Dikko Abdullahi Inde.
He alleged that for a customs officer to own a license is illegal and that some the officers in active service have the licenses to clear consignment from the port, which according to him is also prohibited.
Speaking further, he alleged that customs has also frustrated importers and their principals that refuse to play game with them.
The security chief noted that with underground detective in place, marks the beginning of new reform in the service.
