STCW: Customs Empowers 40 Officers,As Vessels Set To Commence Operations

By Roland Ekama

 

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has charged its beach – combing officers and men to intensify efforts at curtailing smuggling through the waterways.

 

The Customs Area Controller (CAC) of the Western Marine Command (WMC), Comptroller Boyilila Binga gave the charge yesterday during the passing out ceremony organised for the forty officers trained to man the boats and vessels of the Service in Lagos.

 

The customs boss who was represented at the event by Deputy Controller in charge of Enforcement, DC Abubakar Adamu told the trained officers that the only evidence to show for their training is to record increased seizure on waters.

 

The Controller said “Officers and men of the Nigeria Customs Service, we thank the Comptroller General and his management. I stand here for the Area Comptroller of Western Marine. This is to tell you that this training is meant to enhance your performances.

 

“To whom much is given, much is expected because the Comptroller General and his management has invested so much in repairing these vessels and training you guys on the job. So, you should put this training into use by demonstrating more knowledge in what you have been taught.

 

“The only way you can prove this is by making seizures, fighting smugglers to a standstill. That is the only way to justify the investment by the management,” he said.

 

The training however, is in line with the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) conventions, to equip officers with requisite knowledge and techniques who operate on waters.

 

The four weeks mandatory training which ended on Thursday was to prepare the officers who are to man the Service boats and two ocean going vessels.

 

Both commands have a total of twenty personnel each that benefited from the four weeks training put together by management of the service and facilitated by Port Plus Nigeria Limited and Coastal Maritime Academy.

 

Speaking at the end of the programme /presentation of certificates to participants , Head of Operations, Port Plus Nigeria Limited, Commodore Joseph Giwa  (Rtd) stressed the need for personnel of the service to apply what they have learnt whilst at sea.

 

According to him, the company was consulted by management of the service to build the two ocean going ships , namely ” MV Group Of Nine “and “MV Customs Pride”, adding that the Coastal Maritime Academy played key role in conducting some of the courses for personnel.

 

Giwa said the company is a maritime service provider in the area of maritime security for vessels, building of vessels and the service is one of its many clients.

 

He noted that some of the trainings include handling of small arms and maintenance, firefighting, survival at sea etc.

 

Giwa affirmed that the vessels would soon be deployed for surveillance and patrol, even as he affirmed that the training of personnel is a clear indication that management is ready for waterways operations.

 

He noted that the customs will acquire more vessels in the future stressing that more personnel would be trained to man the ships.

 

He described the training as public and private partnership initiative to empower and promoted human capacity with international best practices.

 

Speaking earlier, Public Relations Officer, Western Marine Command, Nigeria Customs Service Mr. Emmanuel Tangwa explained that the essence of the training was for personnel to take charge of the ocean going vessels in line with IMO conventions.

 

“This is the last phase of the training and for our officers to be qualified seafarers, then they must undergo these rigorous training.

 

“For the past three weeks,I can tell you that they have been engaged with series of courses that could teach them about the vessels and their capacity, what is obtainable onboard a ship, what IMO is saying about marine operations etc.

 

He lauded efforts by management of the service for the training of personnel adding that the training would discourage any for casualty at sea following the training.

 

Tangwa however disclosed that navy are already mobilized to complete the final stage of the ships.

 

On his part, instructor from Coastal Maritime Academy, Mr. Abasi Ubong, said the training were on safety measures and the officers are ready and are qualified to mount the boats.

 

He advised management of the service to ensure continuity of the mandatory training for officers.