100 days in office: MAJAN applauds CGC Adeniyi's visionary leadership

ZAINAB JUNAID 

The Maritime Journalists Association of Nigeria (MAJAN), has applauded Comptroller General of Customs, CGC Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR, on his visionary leadership in his first 100 days in office.

MAJAN gave this commendation in a press statement issued recently through the Public Relations Officer, Mr Frank Odinukaeze.

In the statement, Mr. Frank described the Customs Chief as an exemplary team leader and experienced officer who has intelligence, expertise and modern skills to take the Service to greater heights.

The statement partly reads, "The Maritime Journalists Association of Nigeria is commending the Customs Boss on his exceptional performance in inter-agency collaboration, renewed strategies to revenue collection, trade facilitation and anti-smuggling drive.

"CGC  Adewale brought fresh impetus to bear in all aspects of Customs operations, entrenching a culture of discipline and professionalism.

"MAJAN as an association rates CGC Adeniyi high on managerial prowess, as he completes 100 days on the saddle. Since assumption in office, in June 2023, the enigmatic and charismatic Customs Boss has been building bridges and strengthening ties with stakeholders, other government organisations, security agencies, host communities, traditional rulers and freight agents, all with a vision of enhancing efficiency in the system for greater economic growth."

It read further that, "as a well trained career officer, CGC Adeniyi has rejigged Customs operations to place the highest premium on trade facilitation, safeguarding national security, operational effectiveness, anti-smuggling operations driven by intelligence and timely information sharing, as well as respect for human rights."

"As one, who is on a familiar terrain, Adeniyi's first 100 days in office witnessed a clear intent to transform Customs and harness its full potentials through his 3-Point policy thrust; Collaboration, Consultation and Innovation.

"He makes no pretence on his resolve to tackle smuggling and other trans-border crimes. It is quite glaring that CGC Adeniyi is on the march to leave an enduring legacy in Nigeria Customs Service, the maritime industry and the nation’s economy at large."

"Looking at his pedigree, dedication to duties, tenacity, integrity and impressive performance in the past few months, MAJAN has strong confidence in his ability to completely turn things around for good, not only for Customs but Nigerian economy as well."

"As part of the innovative strategy in reviewing anti-smuggling operations of Customs, the CGC dissolved the  Strikeforce Team on July 17, 2023, and strengthened the Federal Operations Unit of the Service nationwide. 

"He successfully restored peace in Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents, ANLCA, after years of internal crisis, rancour and wrangling which defied all solutions proferred by maritime stakeholders. 

"He introduced a fitness programme for officers which he termed 'Walk-Life Balance’ exercise. In terms of training, CGC Adeniyi has performed creditably with the Passing Out of Basic Course I/2023 Cadets, where 81 Cadets successfully finished their training.

"Not limited to that, the Customs Chief also pledged his support to establish Customs primary and Secondary Schools Nationwide. He successfully deployed Area Controllers to various Commands.

"On Monday, 14th August, he extended a hand of fellowship to Dorian Home in Akure, Ondo State, an Orphanage home for Charity and Social Development and equally expressed readiness of his management team to collaborate with National Center for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW) in the fight against the trafficking of Small Arms and Light Weapons. 

Recall that the Service in August 2023, intercepted 1,000 live ammunition concealed in 203 bags of foreign rice in Abeokuta, the Ogun State Capital.

"On Thursday, August 3, 2023, the Customs Boss visited the Ag. Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, at the Force Headquarters, Abuja; he had visited other top officials of the Nigerian Army, Federal Road Safety Corps, Lagos State Governo among many others in order to sought inter-agencies' cooperation and collaboration that will help fast-track sustainable working relationships.

NIPSS Partners with Customs, Affirms Commitment to Nation Building

NIPSS Partners with Customs, Affirms Commitment to Nation Building

ZAINAB JUNAID

Ag. Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR on Wednesday, formalized Memorandum of Understanding with National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies(NIPSS) towards his forthcoming CGC Annual conference. 

Ag. CGC Adewale along with his counterpart, Professor Ayo Omotayo signed the MOU on Wednesday October 4, 2023 when the latter and his management team visited the former at Customs Headquarters Abuja. 

This information was obtained from official facebook page of Nigeria Customs Service(NCS). 

The collaboration, is to improve the ability of Officers and Men of the Nigeria Customs Service(NCS) in area of skills, attitudes and structures needed to function effectively.

While speaking, Ag. CGC Adewale expressed great enthusiasm for the collaboration and commended the Director General of the Institute, Professor Ayo Omotayo for the rigorous steps taken in making the dream a reality. 

He also appreciated the legal team of both Nigeria Customs Service and the Institute for working tirelessly to have the final documents. 

Emphasizing on the positivity this collaboration will bring to the Service, Ag. CGC Adewale restate commitment to ensure the motive behind the MoU is achieved.

On his part, the Director-General of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Professor Ayo Omotayo, while speaking, narrated the agency’s reasons for engaging the NCS, which encapsulates assisting in the repositioning agenda of the NCS and making it more effective in the delivery of the Service's mandate.

He urged the Ag. Comptroller-General of Customs Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR to make the NCS become more of a repositioned Service not only in the collection of duties but also in the facilitation of trade and helping other sectors of the Nigerian economy to industrialise.

The DG of NIPSS emphasised the need for the Nigeria Customs Service to embrace data that can be used in modeling Nigeria's economy in the coming years.

The Director-General of NIPSS, Professor Ayo Omotayo, equally shared his excitement, at the same time, envisaged a new era of progress, driven by both organisations and collaboration, that would lead to the nation's advancement. 

Customs, RMAFC Collaborate to Enhance Revenue Generation

Customs, RMAFC Collaborate to Enhance Revenue Generation 

ZAINAB JUNAID 

The Nigeria Customs Service(NCS) has partnered the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) to enhance Nigeria's revenue generation and combat persistent issue of revenue leakages. 

The Acting Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR, announced the groundbreaking partnership on Tuesday, October 3rd, 2023, at the Service Headquarters, Abuja.

This development tends to align strategies and pool resources to maximize the remittance of accrued revenue to the Federal Government, marking a pivotal moment in Nigeria's financial landscape.

Ag. CGC Adewale appreciated the presence of the Chairman Muhammad Shehu Umar and his delegation at the headquarters and expressed his unwavering commitment to the new collaboration, emphasizing the collective responsibility for minimizing revenue leakages and maximizing remittances.

"It would be a collective responsibility for all of us to come together to minimize revenue leakage and maximize remittance of accrued revenue to the Federal Government."

He also commended RMAFC for their relentless pursuit of solutions to revenue challenges, highlighting the pivotal role this collaboration could play in achieving their shared objectives.

Chairman Muhammad Shehu Umar reciprocated the enthusiasm, congratulated Ag. CGC Adeniyi on his appointment and applauded his acceptance of their partnership proposal. Umar reaffirmed his unwavering support for the CGC's mission to boost revenue generation, echoing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's emphasis on this vital endeavor.

Umar also praised the Nigeria Customs Service's strides under the leadership of CGC Adeniyi in facilitating trade across the nation, recognizing that these efforts would catalyze increased revenue generation.

The collaboration between the Nigeria Customs Service and RMAFC is expected to promote the nation's finances and mitigate revenue losses, ultimately bolstering Nigeria's economic resilience.

It signifies a united front in the battle against revenue leakages and underscores the commitment of these two institutions to safeguarding Nigeria's financial interests.