The Port and Terminal Multiservices Limited (PTML) Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has partnered with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to strengthen transparency and combat corruption.
During a lecture organized by the Anti-Corruption and Transparency Unit (ACTU) of the NCS South Zone, Comptroller Tenny Mankini Daniyan (Mnia), the Customs Area Controller of the PTML Command, urged officers to uphold transparency as a means to promote fairness and increase workplace productivity. He emphasized that the ongoing modernization of the service, implemented with transparency, is designed to improve revenue collection, trade facilitation, and anti-smuggling efforts.
Daniyan highlighted the importance of regulatory compliance, encouraging customs officers to view oversight bodies as partners rather than adversaries. According to him, over 80% of NCS operations are now automated, enhancing both efficiency and accountability. He also stressed that the NCS is one of the most transparent agencies in revenue collection, with all duties paid directly into authorized dealer banks, leaving no room for manipulation.
Reaffirming the Command’s commitment to speedy cargo clearance, Daniyan noted that PTML already achieves a two-hour clearance time for compliant Roll-on/Roll-off (RoRo) consignments. He assured that the command could further improve this record if importers and agents adhered to accurate declarations and timely duty payments.
The Comptroller also addressed public misconceptions about Customs officers diverting government funds. He explained that auditors from the Office of the Auditor General of the Federation routinely examine the command’s financial records to ensure compliance with government policies. He encouraged officers to maintain ethical conduct and contribute positively to the agency’s mission, fostering a public perception of transparency within the NCS.
Mrs. Mary Omonoyan, Chief Superintendent of the ICPC’s Public Enlightenment and Education Unit, delivered a lecture emphasizing the importance of accountability in public institutions. She reminded the officers that, as public agencies operate with public funds, it is essential to maintain financial transparency.
Omonoyan explained that corruption, under the ICPC Act of 2000, encompasses a wide range of offenses, including bribery, fraud, forgery, impersonation, misuse of official property, over-invoicing, and sexual harassment. She highlighted the commission’s creation of a Sexual Harassment Unit to address related cases at the national level.
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She further elaborated that corruption often arises from discretionary actions in promotions, appointments, employment, and disciplinary processes. Public officers, she noted, are legally obliged to report instances of bribery under Section 23 of the ICPC Act.
Explaining the ICPC’s three pillars—enforcement, prevention, and public enlightenment—Omonoyan outlined how the commission assesses government agencies through the Ethics and Integrity Compliance Scorecard. This evaluation identifies both high-performing institutions and those requiring improvement.
“Fostering transparency and accountability in public service builds public trust, enhances effectiveness, and promotes ethical conduct,” Omonoyan stated.
She encouraged officers to uphold the NCS’s mission and values, report infractions, resolve public complaints promptly, and ensure accountability through practical measures such as suggestion boxes placed within the command.
Omonoyan concluded by reaffirming the ICPC’s commitment to creating a corruption-free Nigeria through enforcement, preventive actions, and nationwide awareness campaigns.
