Customs CG Assesses Ikorodu Government Warehouse, Meets NPA Reps, Others

...Charges Local Communities to Support Law Enforcement Agencies

 

 

As part of his visit to Zone ‘A’, Acting Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR, paid a working visit to the Ikorodu Government Warehouse, Lagos.

The Ag. CGC was received by the officer in charge of the warehouse, Deputy Comptroller Willy Ukpabio, representatives of the Nigerian Port Authority and other Terminal Operators.

According to a statement, the Acting CGC, after listening to all queries at the warehouse, which include waterlogged areas disrupting the provision of good service, ceding out part of the facility to private bonded terminals, among others, the Ag. CGC assured the host operators of positive measures to manage the problems.

Similarly, operatives of the Lagos Industrial Command headed by Comptroller Queen Ogbudu, as well as excise stakeholders, welcomed the Acting CGC to the Command.

The Acting CGC, who commended the Lagos Industrial Command for their revenue drive, also had an engaging session with the inquisitive stakeholders who had many questions on the new excise duties.

“I want to start by saluting your efforts; I am proud of your step because of the increased revenue. I want to ask you to be more passionate about your job and infect others with a passion for optimal service delivery. ”

“I assure you that there will be more openness. If there is a need to have a better-organised forum for good service delivery, we won’t hesitate to do so. I want the stakeholders to know that for every responsibility, there is an obligation, and that is for us to have an excellent understanding of our legal framework.” Adewale assured.

The Acting CGC began his Maiden Visit to Zone ‘A’ on the 16th of June, 2023 and he is expected to tour some selected  Commands in the Zone during the first leg of his outing.

Meanwhile  Ag. Comptroller General of Customs has charged local communities around border areas to support law enforcement agents to prevent criminals from passing through the border areas.

He gave the charge on Friday, 21st July 2023, during his official visit to Seme and Badagry environs.

His first port of call was the Palace of the Akran of Badagry Kingdom, His Royal Majesty, De Wheno Aholu, Menu-Toyi I.

According to him, Customs Officers who have served in Badagry have enjoyed a long-standing relationship with the people of Badagry.

He said, “I am in Badagry as part of my working visit to Seme Area Command and we felt that this should be our first port of call because of the long-standing relationship every succession generation of Customs officers who served in the area have with Badagry in general”.

“A very lasting relationship characterized by mutual respect, benefit to all of us and you have always supported and provided us guidance. We want to say a huge thank you for what you have done for us before and what you are doing for us now, and by the grace of God, we are praying that God will give you long life so that you will continue to do more for us”, he added.

He commended the Customs Area Controller, Seme Area Command, Comptroller Dera Nnadi for his passion towards promoting good cordial relationships with the Community.

From the palace, the Ag. CGC and his entourage moved to Seme Area Command, where he was welcomed by a large crowd who defied the rain, including Officers and Men of the Command, Hon. Joseph Gbenu, Chairman, Badagry West LCDA,  representatives from Customs Krake, Federal Republic of Benin, representatives from sister Agencies, Royal fathers, stakeholders, as well as community leaders.

The Ag. CGC called for synergy among sister Agencies and community leaders.

“We must draw strength from the complementarity of our operations and, of course, our traditional rulers, always being there to guarantee the support of the communities that we serve”, he said.

In his address, Comptroller Dera Nnadi highlighted some notable impacts the Command has made.

“In the area of anti-smuggling operation, the Command made headlines with the seizure of fake six million US dollars equivalent to two billion seven hundred million (N2.7 B) Naira. This is in addition to other notable seizures recorded between January and June 2023”, he noted.

“In addition, the Command has also invested so much in trade facilitation and has been at the forefront of dismantling trade barriers”, he added.

At the reception, stakeholders appreciated the CGC’s visit while charging him to go through their petitions.

The Customs Boss appreciated their overwhelming turnout and show of love and assured them that their petitions would be addressed.

He charged them to support Security Agencies to enhance national security.

“National security is the business of every citizen. It should not be for only Security Agencies, so as we make life easier for business, I want to charge you all to make life and the work of our Security Agencies easier”, he said.

“The criminals live around us, those who are bringing arms and ammunition, they operate and live around us, so what we can do to help and re-enforce our national security is if you help us with information, intelligence for us to apprehend these criminals who are infusing mayhem into our communities”.