Hyacinth Chinweuba.
The Tin Can Island Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has announced the collection of N287.6 billion, between January and December 2017, indicating 92.71 per cent of its revenue target of N310.2 billion.
A statement issued by the Public Relations Officer of the Unit, Uche Ejesieme, explained that the Customs Area Controller of the command, Comptroller Yusuf Bashar, introduced several reforms in the entire administrative and operational value chain which resulted in remarkable seizures and revenue within the period.
The statement He said, “Part of the strategies was on the issue of due diligence and professionalism in documentations and examination of cargo.
“It was therefore on the basis of the foregoing that the command intercepted a total of 2,010 Pump Action Rifles in 2017 and the Comptroller-General of Customs, Retired Col. Hameed Ali visited the command on three occasions with some members of the management to address the media.
“A total of five officers of the command who demonstrated uncommon diligence through detection of arms in the Command were rewarded with special promotions to the next rank as an incentive for better functionality.
“Specifically, we handed over ten 40ft containers of both substandard, fake/regulated pharmaceuticals products to NAFDAC and NDLEA, respectively, at different times during the period under review.”
He added: “In view of the importance which the Command attached to capacity building, as a critical element in 21st Century Customs Operations, the Customs Area Controller embarked on a construction of an ICT Training Centre, with a thirty (30) workstations fully connected, to serve the training needs of officers and men as well as other critical Stakeholders.
“The training facility has been used to train over nine hundred and fifty-eight (958) officers and stakeholders in areas relevant to their operations.
“In the same vein, a State of the Art clinic was constructed to take care of the medical needs of both officers and other publics. The clinic is fully equipped with male and female wards with a mini pharmacy.
“These facilities were eventually commissioned by the Comptroller General of Customs, Col Hameed Ibrahim Ali (Rtd), who eulogized the Customs Area Controller for demonstrating exceptional leadership quality.
“The command during the period under review sustained and strengthened it’s relationship with other key Agencies of Government both within and outside the
Port. The Command strongly believes that mutual understanding for peaceful co-existence is key in the actualization of our mandate”.