Adeniyi meets with area controllers, NGE, seeks collaboration for effective service delivery

Adeniyi meets with area controllers, NGE, seeks collaboration for effective service delivery

In a bid to strengthen the working relationship between the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and media practitioners, the Acting Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, met with Customs Area Controllers in Zone A as well as the Nigeria Guild of Editors (NGE) recently at the Lagos Marriott Hotel.

Adeniyi was accompanied by Deputy Comptroller General of Customs, Hamza Gummi in charge of Tariff and Trade, DCG Mohammed Abba-Kura in charge of Enforcement, Investigation, and Inspection, DCG Jack Ajoku, in charge of Excise, Free Trade Zone, and Industrial Incentives and ACG Festus Okun, Zonal Coordinator, Zone A, among others.

In his remarks, the CGC noted that the service has made remarkable progress in different areas over the years and will be soliciting the support, guidance, and collaboration of the media, while at the helm of affairs of the service.

His words: “In over 10 years, the Nigeria Customs Service has made some progress, we have broken several grounds on ICT, human resource development, and revenue generation, and in the next few years, we will be building and consolidating on those grounds and hoping that there are some areas where we will deploy innovative solutions.

“Collaboration is going to be very strong on the agenda of Customs and that is why we are starting this with our partners in the media. We will be open to collaborating with our partners in bringing more comprehensive reports to let Nigerians know what our challenges are, what the gaps are, and what we can do to bridge those gaps to improve border security and generally in Nigeria.

Speaking, the President of NGE, Eze Anaba, congratulated the Customs Boss on his appointment and assured them of their support while also noting the importance of communication and synergy.

“Your coming on board is a refreshing development and I am sure we will enjoy such interactions, on behalf of my colleagues. I assure you that if you continue this way, the Nigeria Customs Service will have it good in the media.

“Some people say they are afraid of the Media but the truth is that, if there is no communication, if there is no interaction, there will be miscommunication,” he said.

In the same vein, Adeniyi, who also had dinner with Public Relations Officers in Zone A, as well as maritime journalists at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Ikeja assured them of an open-door policy and the need for cooperation and partnership in steering the affairs of the Service.

“My intention is just to register our presence in Lagos. We know what Lagos means to Customs and in doing so we solicit your support, guidance, corporation, and partnership in steering the affairs of the Nigeria Customs Service.

“I will open my doors to you, it is going to be an open governance system; you will have the opportunity to contribute, to check the directions in which the customs would go while I am in charge,” he stated.