During its 59th regular meeting, the Nigeria Customs Service Board (NCSB) announced the appointment of five Deputy Comptrollers-General (DCGs) and eight months ago, the appointment of Comptrollers-General (ACGs) of Customs.
The meeting, chaired by the Ministers of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Wale Edun, focused on addressing vacancies left by recently retired senior officers within the service.
The details of the confirmed appointments for the DCGs include OO Peters — DCG/Commander Training and Doctrine Command; BM Jibo — DCG Enforcement Inspection & Investigation; BU Nwanfor — DCG Excise, Free Trade Zone & Industrial Incentives, SA Bomai — Commander Training and Doctrine Command and CK Niagwan —DCG Tariff & Trade.
The appointment of the new ACGs include B Imam — ACG Board; AAS Oloyede — ACG Trade & Tariff; SK Dangaldima — ACG/Zonal Coordinator Zone ‘B’; A — Abdul Azeez — ACG/Zonal Coordinator Zone ‘D’; SA Yusuf —ACG Human Resource Development.
Others include NP Umoh — ACG Training and Doctrine Command; CO Obih — ACG/Zonal Coordinator Zone ‘C’ and S Chiroma — ACG Strategic Research and Policy.
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The NCS said the principles of federal character, seniority and merit guided the appointments approved by the Board.
“These appointments are a testament to the officers’ exemplary services and dedication to the Nigeria Customs Service. The NCSB remains committed to providing strategic leadership to ensure effective and efficient service delivery for optimum performance.
“While thanking the retired members of the management for their meritorious services, the Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, congratulated the newly confirmed officers and charged them to redouble their efforts to ensure the service attains greater heights in its mandates of revenue generation, suppression of smuggling and trade facilitation amongst others.”
The Nigerian Customs Service in a joint partnership with the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy and the Nigerian Railway Corporation, NRC, has integrated a Non-Intrusive Inspection Technology (NIIT) to enhance operational efficiency in Nigerian Seaports.
The agencies reached an agreement on Monday, after a meeting held at the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, attended by the leaders of the organisations.
The meeting featured the deliberation of initiatives aimed at opening up the nation’s seaports to foster seamless cooperation and trade and facilitation.
“A key focal point of discussion was the strategic integration of the Non-Intrusive Inspection Technology (NIIT) to bolster operational efficiency in Nigerian Seaports,” a joint statement said.
The NIIT, according to the Comptroller General of Customs, CGC, Bashir Adeniyi will actively decongest the nation’s seaports and prioritise cargo scanning over traditional physical examination methods.
By scanning, the organisations resolved to rectify and optimise all existing scanners at prominent ports such as Apapa, Tincan Island, Onne, and PTML, while they will simultaneously deploy existing mobile scanners to facilitate expeditious cargo inspections.
The joint statement read partly, “The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) pledged continued commitment to freight cargoes to Inland container depots/dry ports, a strategic move to alleviate congestion at major ports.
“Plans were unveiled for the efficient evacuation of containers from Port Harcourt to Aba, with future extensions envisaged for Onne Port.
“Against the backdrop of rail track construction, the NRC concurred on a pragmatic approach by agreeing to bypass the fixed scanner at Apapa. This ensures the unhindered progression of the scanning process during crucial infrastructure development.
“The meeting advocated for exploring Public-Private Partnerships to oversee the installation and maintenance of scanning technology. This collaborative model aims to sustain efficiency and foster innovation in cargo inspection processes.
“The collaborative synergy witnessed in this meeting underscores the unwavering commitment of the Nigerian government to cultivate a conducive and efficient trade environment.
“The anticipated implementation of these resolutions is poised to positively impact port decongestion, trade facilitation, and overall operational efficiency and competitiveness.”
