NCS release new guidelines on seized goods disposal

Hamilton Nwosa
Writer

Ad

Alibaba shares soar 19% on cloud growth, AI chip development

By Obinna Uballa Alibaba’s Hong Kong-listed shares surged more than 19% on Monday, their highest level since March, following strong quarterly results driven by its cloud computing business and reports of a new AI chip in development, reports said. The rally builds on Friday’s momentum when Alibaba’s U.S.-listed stock jumped nearly 13% after the company…

Wike, others mourn pioneer FCT HoS, Grace Adayilo

By Obinna Uballa The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has expressed deep sorrow over the death of Mrs. Grace Adayilo, the pioneer Head of the Civil Service of the FCT and the first woman to perform that role. Some Nigerians have also expressed sadness over her passing on social media. Adayilo…

Why Our Foreign Missions are Facing Financial Crisis, By FG

Says Pragmatic Steps ongoing to address Challenges. By Obinna Uballa The Ministry of Foreign Affiars of Nigeria has that Nigerian embassies and consular offices across the globe are facing severe financial distress, with unpaid staff salaries, mounting debts, and disrupted diplomatic operations exposing deep cracks in the system. In a statement on Monday by Ministry…

Ad

Worried by the spate of fake online auctions, The Nigeria Customs Service 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 system.

The NCS has set up four committees to handle the disposal of these categories of goods. The committees are those on assessment, disposal, seizure and overtime.

According to the new guidelines signed by the Comptroller-General of Customs, Hammed Ali, perishable items with or without defendants are to be properly disposed of by the relevant committee.

For general goods, the guidelines state that these are to be disposed of after condemnation by a competent court of law, adding, “Condemnation shall be done after 30 days of seizure, so far as there is no notice of claim or litigation.”

The guidelines also stipulate that all overtime cargos are to be published in the Federal Government’s gazette when they fall due after 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 NCS boss enjoined interested buyers to apply online, specifying items of interest to the committee on disposal, adding that applications must be accompanied with approved means of identification such as a national identity card, passport or driving licence, in addition to a recent passport photograph scanned onto the dedicated portal on the website.

The guidelines further explained that successful applicants would be required to make payment within 14 days of notification through designated banks at the area commands where the goods were domiciled.

 

According to the guidelines, any returns on disposals will 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 coordinator, who 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 NCS has also announced plans to designate the Ikorodu Cargo Terminal as a dedicated export gateway.

Currently, the terminal serves as a storage facility for loaded imported containers, also known as overtime containers that have stayed beyond the 28 days allowed by the NCS at the ports.

The National Public Relations Officer of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, said the decision was part of measures to boost Nigeria’s non-oil export earnings

Ad

X whatsapp