Jubilations by Agents as Compt. Tilley-Gyado takes over Baton at KLT Command

Jubilations by Agents as Compt. Tilley-Gyado takes over Baton at KLT Command

ZAINAB JUNAID

Agents working within vicinity of Kirikiri Lighter Terminal Command of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) were seen jubilating and singing songs of praise as they sight the arrival of the new Customs Area Controller of the KLT Command, Tilley-Gyado MM (Mrs) chantting "Awa lokan, its going to be a favourable season for us, thank God, no more dry season."

The new Comptroller arrived the Command on Friday September 15th 2023 to officially take over baton from Comptroller Timi Bomodi who has also been redeployed to Seme Area Command to take over reigns of leadership there.

When asked the reason behind their jubilations, one of the agents revealed that Comptroller Tilley-Gyado has always being a woman of honour, respect and someone that never turn agents down in times of need.

"The new Comptroller is our person at this terminal and we've always appreciate her stay back then and I believe she will do more now that she is our new Comptroller," the agent had said.

Meanwhile, at the handing over ceremony, Comptroller Bomodi noted that the Command was given a revenue target of sixty two billion, two hundred million naira (#62,200,000,000.00) but as at the time of handing over power to the new Area Controller, the Command has generated the sum of thirty six billion, nine hundred and thirty million naira only (#36,930,000,000.00). 

This according to him, represents about 59.37% of the total revenue target for 2023. A 22.44% increase of revenue collected for the same period under review for the year 2022, that is, thirty billion, one hundred and sixty million naira (#30,160,000,000.00).

Comptroller Martina Tilley-Gyado on her part, praised God for his mercy and for making the feat a realisable one and also appreciated the Acting Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, for finding her worthy of the appointment and promised to meet management's expectations.

The new CAC stressed that her leadership would adopt emotional intelligence strategies and adopt Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) analysis in addressing matters related to revenue collection, anti-smuggling, trade facilitation, and robust stakeholders engagement to improve compliance.

"I am here to deploy emotional intelligence, which comprises teamwork, interpersonal relationships, and knowledge of the environment," She said. 

Customs Boss Charges NTFC on Trade Facilitation Agreement

Customs Boss Charges NTFC on Trade Facilitation Agreement 

ZAINAB JUNAID

The Ag. Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR, has charged members of the National Trade Facilitation Committee (NTFC) on adopting strategic method that will help enhance the implementation of trade facilitation agreement and take bold, courageous decisions to improve Nigeria's rankings in various indexes. 

CGC Adewale gave the charge at the 2-day National stakeholders retreat held in Lagos recently to implement trade facilitation Agreement in Nigeria.

He explained that the NCS has taken some measures in furtherance of its trade facilitation mission, which includes the automation of trade procedures. 

"Customs has raised the bar with the recent launch of the advanced ruling and the recent migration from fast track 2.0 to the Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) system.

The AEO is a globally recognized program introduced by the  Customs Organization to secure and facilitate global trade. 

He noted that the committee has played a vital advisory role in all trade-related matters. 

"A number of member countries of the World Trade Organization(WTO) have made a very good use of this Committee which has played not only a very strong advisory role but has also built a very good report and role in all matters related to trade. 

"We will identify such countries and, working with all our stakeholders, I will propose that we also make benchmarking visits to study best practices, to note what works in those places and what does not work and why our system can also measure up with what they're doing," he added.

He further charged members of the committee to be deliberate in their action, especially when implementing Trade Facilitation Agreement. 

"I really want to charge us that we must be deliberate in our actions, we must be honest in reviewing our current state in the implementation of the trade facilitation agreement, and we must be ready to take very bold and courageous decisions to improve our rankings in various indexes.

"As we gather in this event, I encourage robust discussions and the sharing of innovative ideas that will contribute to the sustainable economic growth and development of Nigeria," he concluded.