'Cultivate the habit of continuous learning'-

...CGC Adeniyi urges Customs Graduates 

ZAINAB JUNAID 

 The Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR, has emphasized the significance of embracing continuous learning for the recently graduated officers from Senior Course 9 and Junior Course 17.

 

CGC dewale who represented the Deputy Comptroller General of Customs, Sa'idu Galadima, in charge of the Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC), on 8 December 2023 at the Nigeria Customs Command and Staff College Gwagwalada, Abuja,  highlighted the importance of professionalism and integrity, urging the graduates to uphold high standards in their service. 

He also encouraged them to use the opportunities in their various commands and take calculated risks.

Also speaking, ACG Kingsley Egwuh, the Commandant of the Nigeria Customs Command and Staff College Gwagwalada praised the graduates for their dedication towards the betterment of the service and the nation. 

Expressing satisfaction with their 100% success rate, he emphasized diverse training areas, including academic standards, proficiency, and weapon handling.

He said, "All graduates should give their careers a purposeful meaning, shun all vices against growth and development, and uphold the motto of the Nigeria Customs Service, which is Justice and Honesty."

The Commandant revealed ongoing projects, including replacing dilapidated chairs in the college hall and installing solar panels.

ACG Egwu, while praising the graduates, expressed optimism that the acquired training would enhance their performance. He thanked CGC Adeniyi and his Management Team for their unwavering support, including approving an African Study Tour to Gambia, Ghana, Mozambique, and Tunisia.

Deputy Commandant and Director of Studies, Comptroller  Oluyomi Adebakin, on his part, stated that the curriculum of the Senior and Junior courses aims to develop human capacity and establish a more effective and efficient Customs allocation. She highlighted the dedication to enhancing officers' skills and abilities with a high level of moral standards.

The Special Guest of Honor, Senator Isah Echocho, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Customs and Excise, highlighted the global economic challenges and stressed the importance of positively impacting society. He expressed hope that the graduates' ability to advance in technological advancements would contribute to elevating Nigeria's economy.

Similarly, The college hosted a regimental dinner night to honor the graduates of Senior Course 9 and Junior Course 17. The evening celebrated academic achievements and underscored the disciplined ethos of the Nigeria Customs Service.

Amidst the regimental splendor, the night served as a reminder of the service's proud heritage and the graduates' responsibility to carry forward the torch of discipline and tradition. The structured rituals and ceremonial aura encapsulated the ethos of the Nigeria Customs Service, providing a fitting culmination to the accomplishments of Senior Course 9 and Junior Course 17.

The evening concluded with a sense of accomplishment and pride, marking not only the end of academic pursuits but also the beginning of a journey for these graduates to carry forward the values of the Nigeria Customs Service with honor and dedication.

Nigeria Customs Service Management elevates 357 Junior Officers

ZAINAB JUNAID 

As part of the commitment to boost the morale of Officers and Men of the Nigeria Customs Service, management of the Service under the leadership of Comptroller Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR, has approved the promotion of 357 Men of the service from the ranks of Customs Assistant I (CAI) to Inspector of Customs (IC) level. 

National Public Relations Officer for the Comptroller General of Customs, CSC Abdullahi Maiwada disclosed this in a statement made available to journalists on Saturday, November 9, 2023, saying this significant decision was ratified during the 7th Management meeting of 2023, chaired by the Comptroller General of Customs Bashir Adeniyi MFR, on December 1, 2023.

According to him, the comprehensive promotion list encompasses both the General Duty(GD) and Support Staff (SS) personnel who excelled in the 2023 promotion exercise. The breakdown of promoted officers is as follows: AIC to IC (246) GD, AIC to IC (37) SS, CAI to AIC (39) GD, CAI to AIC (27) SS, CAII to CAI (7) SS, CAIII to CAII (1) GD.

This strategic advancement mirrors the visionary leadership of the Comptroller-General, emphasising motivation, recognising excellence, and rewarding diligence within the service.

While extending hearty cheers to the newly promoted Officers, the Comptroller General urges them to redouble their efforts in fulfilling the service’s core mandates of Revenue Generation, Suppression of Smuggling, and Trade Facilitation.

NAGAFF 24yrs Anniversary: Founder tasks freight forwarders on the quest for knowledge

 …as Ag. Registrar CRFFN commends NAGAFF Academy for human capacity building 

ZAINAB JUNAID

One of the core visions of the founder, sustainer, nurturer and mentor of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders(NAGAFF), Dr. Boniface Okechukwu Aniebonam was for all freight forwarders to receive professional training so as to gain more confident in handling operations at Ports.

As he stated that the quest for knowledge and wisdom is never an ending one, Dr. Boniface urged forwarders to be more proactive in their search for professional knowledge and upskill themselves in order to contribute to the human capacity building of the Nigerian workforce.

Speaking at NAGAFF 24 years anniversary and award celebration held on Friday at Rockview Hotels in Lagos, the NAGAFF founder stressed that for enhanced productivity in the system to be achieved, every member must have formal education. “Learning has no limit, you will be more confident to handle your operations when you have knowledge. But without it, you will just be wandering about,” he said.

He further urged the freight forwarders to strengthen ties with government in area of  achieving it’s objective as he noted that government cannot achieve it’s mandate alone but with positive collaboration with Freight Forwarders and in order to move the nation forward, collectivity and togetherness should be encouraged.

Also speaking at the occasion, Acting Registrar, Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN), Mrs Chinyere Uromta in her goodwill message commended NAGAFF academy for the upskill of over 2000 youths which has helped impacted in human capital development.

She said, “Over 2000 graduates have emerged from NAGAFF academy, NAGAFF mandate is in line with the mandate of the Council, that is why NAGAFF Academy is commendable. We need to get it right this time in the Port, bring about enhanced productivity in the force level and mitigate cost and also ensure that we engaged in sensitization programs, we need to bring stakeholders closer and also I will enjoined management of the association not to relent in their efforts of setting things right in the Ports.”

cross section of guests at NAGAFF 24years anniversary & award celebration 

In his welcome address, National President of the Association, Forwarder Ezisi Emmanuel Tochukwo opined that for Nigerian Ports to remain competitive in attracting more cargo flow in the region, government agencies have to check the inefficiencies in the ports and customs operations.

High Chief Tochukwu charged relevant government agencies like Nigeria Port Authority(NPA), Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Nigeria Shippers Council(NSC) among others to make Nigerian Ports more efficient and competitive with global standards especially under the African Continental Free Trade Area(AfCFTA).

To him, “the agencies need to do checks and balances on the Poor quality of services at the port which is key to operational efficiency; arbitrary hike in duty and terminal charge which indirectly affects port operational efficiency; illegal activities of non-state actors within and around the port terminals; how proliferation of agencies contribute to cargo clearing delays; Challenges faced by Truck Drivers in accessing terminal gate and loading among other problems faced by port users.”

Speaking on how the association has immensely contributed to the Country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) since it’s inception, Forwarder Tochukwu stressed that the presence of NAGAFF members’ business operations within and around the port areas has added value to the livelihood of the immediate community through employment and job creation and has enhanced growth in the national economy by facilitating international trade flows through ports across the nation.

He added that the journey of the past 24years has seen NAGAFF grow from its meagre number of persons to over 10,000 registered members.

“Having successfully sustained professional freight forwarding practice for the past 24 years, we are currently working on digitalizing the records of NAGAFF members’ nationwide with an automated database,” he disclosed.

The ceremony was also graced by Comptroller Dera Nnadi, Customs Area Controller of TinCan Island Port Command of the Nigeria Customs Service; Barrister Bello Hassan, former Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Nigeria Shippers Council; Acting Registrar CRFFN, Mrs Chinyere Uromta; Dr. Farinto Kayode Collins, MD /CEO Wealthy Honey Investment Ng. Ltd; Captain John T. Okakpu, Chairman and Coordinator, Nigeria Agro Export Setup Committee among others.