News
E- Auction: Adeniyi’s Magic Wand Against Translucence in Nigeria Custom Service
BY ABUBAKAR YUSUF
The Leadership of Adewale Adeniyi as Comptroller General, Nigeria Customs Service NCS is laced with transparency and accountability, particularly in his quest to bequeath a lasting legacies in the service .
This resulted in matching words with actions from the recently declared first quarter revenue generated by the service that overshot the expected income of each quarter, to meet the 5 trillion target in the current year, 2024.
The accountable activities of the NCS does not stop at revenue generation alone, which is the core mandate of the agency, but had proved it’s mettle in one of the core programs , the E-Auction , a process that was hitherto shrouded in mystery and sharp practices.
This year’s exercise under the leadership of Adeniyi was laced with decorum, particularly from point to point that led to the generation of huge revenue amounting to half a billion.
With the crystal enumeration of both seized items, goods and overtime cargoes abandoned at the ports, hitherto been fraudulently manipulated, Adeniyi adopted a sane measure that became a rallying point to the stakeholders and not feasible in the previous years in the NCS.
Gone where those days when both the officers and men through proxy and stooges re-circled e-auction activities through hijacking of the process, that does not go down well with the public and stakeholders.
For Adeniyi, to sustain the laudable platform meant to sanitize the system, transparency and accountability must be a watch word to the public, particularly at this crucial time when the image of the service have been subject to public scrutiny and debates.
With the new leadership in the Nigerian Customs NCS , efforts must be put in place to restore it’s lost glory and relive true confidence of Nigerians in the service.
With a committee in place appointed by the CG NCS, which screened publicly applicants from over 13, 000 subscribers, with 476 vehicles uploaded on the portal , which 462 won.
With the workable format of auctioning goods to the public along with payment of statutory duties on the vehicles, the service is returning to the part of glory that will earn the prestige and confidence of ordinary Nigerians.
This is against the backdrop of public outcry, insinuations and allegations of manipulation by officers and men of the Nigeria Customs Service NCS, appointed by the CG NCS who were men of proven integrity and service delivery.
The decision of the NCS DG to relive e- auction as a platform to dispose vehicles and goods will discourage corruption and smuggling at the ports.
With the establishment of guidelines and procedures, ordinary Nigerians can apply through the process online to own a car or goods of his/her choice provided it is guided by the rules of the game.
With the new format and positive development, no doubt the previous erosion of confidence of the general public in the NCS would have become a thing of the past.
All hands must however be on deck to continue to support not only the transformation agenda of Adewale Adeniyi in the new NCS, but support to transparency and accountability as well as the rule of law backed the operations of it’s act.
For Adewale Adeniyi, the process of rebuilding the NCS away from its traditional and analogue form of rendering its service to the general public is on course, with digitisation as the other of the day, both nationally and internationally.
The E- Auction platform has come to stay, having been tested and trusted with less human activities that will attract public outcry, rather than commendation from the current exercise.
Written BY ABUBAKAR YUSUF on yus.abubakar3@gmail.com.
The Controller General of the Federal Fire Service, Abdulganiyu Jaji, has placed fire service personnel on red alert to ensure swift response to emergencies during the Eid-el-Fitr celebrations.
Jaji also urged Nigerians to adopt fire safety measures, particularly while cooking, to prevent avoidable incidents during the festive period.
In a statement issued on Saturday in Abuja, the fire service boss advised against leaving cooking unattended and emphasized the need to store gas cylinders outside kitchens and keep matches away from children.
“These safety measures are crucial in preventing fire outbreaks, especially during a period when many people travel, increasing the risks of fuel tanker accidents,” he said.
He added that all fire service commands and zones across the country have been placed on high alert to respond promptly to emergencies.
“I urge citizens to familiarize themselves with the contact details of their local fire service units for quick intervention in case of any fire incident,” Jaji stated.
The fire chief also stressed the need for fuel tankers and other articulated vehicles transporting flammable materials to be fitted with onboard cameras to enhance safety.
“Many tankers on Nigerian roads still fail to meet modern safety standards. These substandard vehicles contribute to rising accident figures, leading to loss of lives and property and leaving many families in distress,” he said.
Jaji noted that modern tankers come with features such as anti-rollover systems, anti-spill devices, and onboard cameras to monitor drivers’ behavior, which help in preventing road crashes.
“The continued use of substandard tankers without these safety features remains a major risk,” he warned.
While acknowledging the financial burden of replacing old fleets, Jaji suggested an alternative approach—installing onboard computers to monitor driving patterns, speed, and nighttime movements.
“Although the complete replacement or retrofitting of tankers with modern safety devices like anti-skid systems, speed limiters, and automatic emergency braking remains a priority, government agencies responsible for enforcing these measures are working to address the issue. Over time, we are confident that these improvements will be implemented,” he assured.
MultiChoice Nigeria has announced that the tenth edition of the Big Brother Naija (BBNaija) reality show will begin soon.
In an Instagram post on Saturday, the organisers revealed that the audition process for this edition will differ from previous ones.
Unlike past seasons, where aspiring contestants auditioned virtually, those vying for a spot in the 10th edition will have to audition in person.
However, the premiere date for the new season and the audition locations has not been disclosed.
“This time, it’s all about showing up and being you. Ready to shine? Get ready your moment is closer than you think! Season 10 is coming,” the post reads.
The reality TV show first introduced online auditions in its fourth season in 2019.
At the time, the option was created for those who couldn’t attend the physical auditions held earlier.
Since then, the organisers have maintained virtual auditions, adding different twists with each edition.
In the last season, contestants were required to audition in pairs.
At the last edition, Kellyrae defeated other housemates to win the grand prize of N100 million.
The feat also sees him become the first married person to win the show.
As the winner, he went home with a cash prize of N60 million, a new car among others.
The First Lady, Remi Tinubu, has described her husband, President Bola Tinubu, as a man of courage in a terse message to celebrate his birthday.
President Tinubu clocked 73rd on Saturday.
“I rejoice and thank God Almighty for His faithfulness in your life over the years.
I celebrate your courage, strength, and resilience that have all contributed to who we both are today,” the First Lady wrote.
“May you live long, in divine health, joy, peace and prosperity. Happy Birthday, Mr. President…My Knight in Shining Armor”.