Customs launches e-auction platform to sell seized goods

The Nigerian customs has unveiled an electronic auction platform for the transparent sale of cargoes forfeited to the federal government.

The unveiling of the e-auction platform, which was held on Monday at the NCS headquarters, was performed by Hameed Ali, customs comptroller-general.

Representatives of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), among others, who were members of the e-auction committee, were present at the event.

Ali described the platform as a game-changer for the service as it would bring about a regime of transparency and consistency in the disposal of seized vehicles to Nigerians.

He also said that the electronic platform was approved based on the conviction that it would assist in checking the abuse which the manual auction process was subjected to in the past, which he named as the reason for suspending the manual process when he assumed office.

“The launching of the e-auction platform today marks a complete departure from the manual process of the past that was opened to abuses,” he said.

“In the past, stakeholders had accused the service of nepotism, short-changing the government of revenue through arbitrary auction fees to be paid by allottees and sundry corruption allegations against the service.

“Consequently, since my assumption of duty as the CGC, suspension order was placed on the manual auction to give way to development of an electronic platform that will be secured, transparent, capable of increasing revenue as well as providing equal opportunities for all Nigerians who are interested in the process.

“It’s been a long walk to an era of a system that will ensure transparency and accountability in such a way that leaves nobody in doubt that NCS has the capacity to discharge its responsibilities with utmost sincerity.”

The comptroller-general commended the committee for keeping with the decision of the management of Customs to take the path of transparency adding that the launch of the e-auction portal is within the law, which gives the service powers to dispose seized and overtime cargoes after they must have undergone a judicial process.