The Assistant Comptroller General (ACG) of Customs in charge of Zone A of Nigeria Customs Service, Mrs Modupe Aremu has given a nod of dedication to duty and service for the officers and men operating in the zone.
ACG Modupe Aremu gave the commendation on Monday while rounding off her working visit at Seme Border Area Command of the Service.
She expressed her satisfaction at the performance of the officers, while urging them to do more she said “With the tour of all commands, I have seen that all the officers are doing well but they can still do better. I am telling them that they should be expecting impromptu visits from the Zonal Coordinator, so they should not relax on the job.
“Seme command visit is the end of my tour in Zone A and I must commend all the commands, they account for over 80 per cent of revenue collection by the NCS and so they should keep up the good work
She hinted that the Service end to end automation based on Information and Communication Technology connectivity which is about to kick start will enable the Service to have an electronic signature drones patrolling the border to ensure overview of what is happening in the area.
While noting that the service is trying to minimize person to person contact in other to reduce human interaction and make work faster and more efficient, the ACG expressed satisfaction with the joint border post buildings that was commissioned on Oct. 23, 2018, noting that it ushered in an era of coordinated border management.
She hinted that it’s a one-stop-shop and based on what the comptroller shows her, it is what is practiced abroad and is really commendable that what is seen abroad is obtainable here in Nigeria.
The Zonal Coordinator however urged Seme Customs to keep abreast of all the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) protocols in order to be well grounded on happenings.
Speaking on enforcement activities, the Zonal boss urged the command to keep pushing as the nation at this point in time needed the Service to properly secure its borders.
Aremu disclosed that the scanner at the border would start functioning to help simplify processes as much as possible and advise the command to ensure proper compilation of case files and prosecution of arrested suspects to show the seriousness of the Service in fighting smuggling.
Earlier in his welcoming address, the Seme Command Area Controller, Comptroller Bello Jibo, disclosed that enforcement activities were not affected by the border closure as the command made a remarkable Seizures of 1,244 suspected smuggled goods with a duty paid value of eight hundred and fifty six million, three hundred and fifty thousand, four hundred and forty one naira forty kobo (N856, 348,441.41)
Comptroller Jibo hinted that despite the unfriendly economic policies imposed on goods transiting through Benin Republic, the command was able to collect about N719 million as revenue and processed export volume of 635,149.23 metric tons with a free on-board value of N15.5 billion.
He listed the intercepted items to include; 10,706 bags of 50kg each, 3,441 parcels of cannabis sativa, 10,309 by 25 lites jerry cans each of premium motor spirit (PMS) amounting to 7 tank trucks and also 109 vehicle with 37 already in court for condemnation.
Speaking on the command relationship with host community, Comptroller Jibo said “The command has a very good understanding with the host community as we are always in close contact with the leadership of the community, the youth and also the elders, in trying to cement this relationship, the command built and handed over a modern toilet facility to the Badagry West Development Area and partnered with an NGO to equip the Badagry United Football Club”.
Speaking on he “Some projects undergoing work or completed in the command are 16 classrooms for primary school, construction of 30-man rank and file quarters and others.
“The challenges faced has to do with ICT interconnectivity at the Joint Border Patrol, signing of a bilateral agreement, the connection of the barracks to the national grid and inadequate junior staff,” he said.
“On inter departmental relationship, the Nigeria Customs Service as lead agency at the border ensures that there is synergy, cooperation and togetherness among all security agencies working here. We are coordinated towards achieving a common goal in making our borders safe for doing business and free from crimes” he quipped.
He however appreciate the CGC and the management of the Service for making the Command one of the major beneficiaries of the Nigeria Customs Service welfare programs.