Customs Chief Visits Lekki Port, Environs, Tasks Officers on Integrity and Transparency
ZAINAB JUNAID
The Ag. Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR, has tasked Customs officers at Lekki Port to be diligent in the discharge of their duties especially when dealing with Lekki Port investors.
CGC Bashir made this call while on a familiarization visit to Lekki Port and Environs on Wednesday, 20th July 2023, stating that officers should endeavor to collaborate with investors and should also cultivate integrity and transparency.
According to him, "In service provision, we must ensure we are at our best in service delivery. I will also encourage you to collaborate with our investors, support those that are compliant, report and apply sanctions to those that are not.
"Our officers must cultivate a high sense of integrity and transparency in what you do."
The Ag. CGC kicked off with the Lagos Free Trade Zone Area Command, where he was received by the Area Controller, Dorathy Yisa-Omogbehin.
In his remarks, he emphasized that the free zone concept promises the country many benefits.
"The concept of free zone promises the country many benefits, in terms of foreign investment, provision of jobs, creating foreign exchange and of course transfer of skills and technology to Nigeria," he said.
On her part, the Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Dorathy Yisa-Omogbehin, appreciated the CGC's visit and narrated the negative and positive ordeal experienced at the Lekki Port.
Despite the lack of accommodation problems faced by the Command, the Command was able to generate over N27billion this year so far.
To her, "The most challenging thing is accommodation, we have a lot of work to do here, but we lack accommodation. We have to send some of our officers to town. If we must do our work well, the officers must be around.
"And in terms of revenue, this year, we have generated N27.5 billion, we have also issued demand notice, and our intervention stands at N1. 2 billion this year,
The warmth reception received by the Ag. CGC was not limited to the Port Command alone, the Chief Executive Officers and management of the headquarters of the Lagos Free Zone, Lekki Port and Lekki free zone development company, as well as representatives of sister agencies and stakeholders also eulogize his presence.
The CGC assured of the services' support to facilitate and boost trade in Nigeria while also urging partner agencies with customs to portray the concept of the free trade zone.
"As a responsible agency of government, we want to pledge our support and as a deliberate strategy, I want to let you know that I will be open to regular dialogue with you so that those prayers you talked about, we will be able to surmount them", he said.
"There is still a lot of misunderstanding about the operation and concept of the free trade zone in Nigeria, so you do have the responsibility to promote a better understanding, not just customs but also agencies of government that are involved in the administration and management", he added.
The Ag. CGC ended the day's activities with a tour of the Dangote Refinery.
