Colonel Ali Promised Corrupt Customs Officials

Hameed Ali introduces new methods of work at the customs office, making corrupt officials feel very uncomfortable.

Hameed Ali, the new Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service promised to jail corrupt customs officers.  During the meeting at the

Customs Headquarters in Abuja on Friday he told that he has “zero tolerance for corruption”.

Ali reportedly caused panic  among top customs officials with his following statement: “all Customs area controllers, heads of Units and Departments shall now send a weekly report on all proven cases of false declarations, deliberate misapplication of tariff, undervaluation, concealment and seizures with full compliments of action taken to the office of the Comptroller-General and all Customs Area Controllers, heads of units and departments will be accountable for infractions in their areas of operations.”

“Considering my military background, I believe punishment must be punitive for others to see it as a deterrent,” assured them Hameed Ali, adding that “therefore, as an officer of the Nigeria Customs Service, if you are caught involved in corruption, I am not only going to dismiss you, I will make sure I prosecute and jail you!”

Ali also promised to keep his office open 24/7 for legitimate complaints from traders.

Although there has been speculations that the newly appointed Customs boss, Hameed Ali, might reject President Buhari’s appointment, the presidency has revealed the reasons why Ali was selected for the job.

Buhari appointed Hameed Ali, a retired colonel, as the comptroller general of Nigerian Customs Service on August 28, Thursday. curiously finding no career customs official suitable for the post. Colonel Ali is widely reputed to be a spartan anti-corruption crusader, even more stringent and harsh than President Buhari.

Meanwhile, Muhammadu Buhari has been dragged to court by an Enugu-based activist, Ifeanyichukwu Okonkwo who filed a suit at the Federal High Court Umuahia, Abia state challenging the appointment of Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali (rtd) as the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service

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