ACG ISAH UMAR:
DIGITIZING A FAILING AUCTION SYSTEM IN THE CUSTOMS
By Timothy Paul Okorocha
Isah Umar: The Think Tank of the Customs Team
Appointment as a Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of a federal government agency is a call to national service. It is a rare opportunity, privilege given to very few individuals. It is a position of trust. Beyond the perquisites of office, it is also a task one must accomplish. The appointee must therefore, be ready for work, put on his thinking cap, and crave to deliver on given mandate. He must know what to do to achieve success as he cannot do the job alone. Whoever must be in his team must be a tested hand, someone who understands the intricacies of the job. As the new CEO, the first move is to ensure that one assembles the right team. In the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), the Comptroller General, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, is no doubt cruising well after two years in office. Adeniyi has recorded tremendous achievements in the past two years. Seen as an exceptional trail blazer, Adeniyi has indeed performed under the agenda of customs modernization, trade facilitation and increased revenue. And to a large extent, he enjoys the confidence of his principals as a federal government appointee. And the President has not failed to express this.
Adeniyi’s success has led to the view that he has good management team, apart from his own personal wonderful attributes. And indeed, this is not in doubt. The Customs job is a whole lot of task as the CGC has to deal with so many issues bothering on trade, anti-smuggling operations, among others. A survey of those in the management team of the Customs led by Adeniyi shows that the ACG Headquarters has a lot to do to ensure that his boss succeeds in the statutory obligations before the Customs, and of course his clear mandate as the boss of the organization. The officer holding this position is Alhaji Isah G. Umar, the Assistant Comptroller General (ACG) Headquarters. He is indeed the Principal Staff Officer (PSO) of the CGC. As the PSO, Umar’s office is like the engine room of the Customs Service saddled with overseeing the affairs of nine departments. With so many schedules of the CGC, Umar has the responsibility of working closely with his principal for the day to day running of the Customs.
Distinct Assignments of the ACG Headquarters
As the ACG Headquarters, Umar has other distinct responsibilities which are all part of the statutory responsibilities of the Service. One of such critical responsibilities is the management of trade goods seized from importers or smugglers for violating trade regulations. Some are overtime cargoes that must be handled according to the provisions of the law. So apart from all his other schedules related to the CGC, his office takes charge of the auctioning of assorted goods seized and condemned by the Customs Service. The management of such goods is a herculean task. Recently, that office was inundated with complaints as a result of several irregularities where same auction papers were given to more than three persons, sometimes even five. It could be a nightmare to get an auction paper and one processing every payment only to find out at the point of delivery that the same item, either vehicle, container or others are not on the ground at the ports or border stations. What is more worrisome is that monies are paid by each of those persons given the auction papers.
Most of the times, goods auctioned are not seen on ground, or someone else had taken the items out of the ports/terminals before the next person with same auction papers arrive.
Goods are also auctioned but said not to have been condemned by appropriate courts of law. In such case, the beneficiary may be jinxed. He will have to exercise patience, doing the necessary leg work until the matter is resolved. Sometimes, the Customs management may resolve to offer alternative option, another auction so that the beneficiary does not lose his/her money earlier paid to the federal government. But there is no guarantee.
However, there may soon be a clear solution on these aforementioned negatives. This is if the current proposal before the Service succeeds. Umar has as a matter of urgency introduced an addition to the automation system through the service’s ICT.
Indications are that the proposal has been presented to management for approval. It is about adding more impetus in automating the entire auction system.
The benefits of automating the auction system of the service cannot be imagined. It will be tremendous. This will end the era of nightmare in which goods are auctioned when the goods are no longer on the ground. The key measure is the streamlining of this operation to address the lapses of the past. Noting that this is the antidote to the embarrassment suffered over the years, Umar Is optimistic that the move will end the ugly incidents of the past. In effect, it will mean that auctioned items shall be on the ground at the ports, border stations or any designated station for the owners to pick. Observers believe that when this becomes realistic, it will further add to the accolades of the customs management team.