By Bon Peters
PORT HARCOURT/Nigeria: The immediate past Chairman of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Onne Seaport Chapter, Mr. Mike Ebeatu, has strongly refuted allegations of corruption and extortion levelled against the Onne Customs Command, describing the claims as “baseless, unfounded, and a figment of the author’s imagination.”
Ebeatu, a prominent figure in Nigeria’s maritime trade industry, was reacting to a recent publication by a Lagos-based journalist which quoted a group named the National Compliance Joint Taskforce of Licensed Clearing Agents (NCJTFLCA), alleging ongoing extortion at the Onne Port in Rivers State.
Speaking to journalists in Port Harcourt, Ebeatu expressed disappointment over what he termed “a calculated attempt to tarnish the hard-earned reputation” of the Customs Area Controller of Onne Command, Comptroller Mohammed Babandede. According to him, the claims were concocted by “self-serving individuals and naysayers” who are bent on undermining the successes recorded by the command.
“As someone who has worked closely with Comptroller Babandede, I can affirm that his leadership has repositioned Onne Customs in terms of revenue generation, trade facilitation, anti-smuggling operations, and strict adherence to import and export procedures,” he said.
Ebeatu further dismissed the NCJTFLCA as a “non-existent group,” claiming it was an invention of the journalist behind the report in an attempt to attract attention and relevance. “The so-called association is fictitious. It exists only in the imagination of its creator,” he stated.
Highlighting the progress made under Comptroller Babandede’s administration, Ebeatu noted that since assuming office, the Area Controller had prioritized stakeholder engagement and transparency. “He convened regular interactive sessions with licensed agents and trade groups to emphasize the need for compliance and due process. His openness has strengthened synergy among stakeholders and other port agencies,” Ebeatu said.
He also referenced notable achievements under the current leadership, including significant seizures of arms, ammunition, and illicit drugs concealed by smugglers, as well as consistent surpassing of revenue targets set by the Nigeria Customs Service.
“The Command’s revenue performance under Comptroller Babandede has been outstanding. He has created an enabling environment for diligent officers to thrive, rewarding excellence and encouraging professional commitment,” Ebeatu remarked.
He urged stakeholders and industry players who have concerns about tariff increases or clearing processes to adopt constructive dialogue rather than resort to unfounded public accusations. “Clearing tariffs are guided by the fiscal directives of the Federal Ministry of Finance, and Customs, as an agency, is mandated to implement those policies,” he added.
Ebeatu described Comptroller Babandede as “unassuming, pragmatic, and results-driven,” and praised him for his alignment with the policy thrust of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, particularly in the areas of revenue generation, trade facilitation, and suppression of smuggling.
“Instead of cheap blackmail, what we need now is unity of purpose to support a leadership that is delivering results,” Ebeatu concluded.
