Apapa Customs Area Command gets new controller
Apapa Customs Area Command gets new controller
By Okezie Nnadi
The new Customs Area Controller of Apapa Command, Comptroller Babajide Jaiyeoba has expressed high optimism to surpass targets and ensure full compliance at the nation’s foremost port.
Compt. Jaiyeoba who took over from his predecessor, ACG Auwal Baba Mohammed, in Lagos yesterday said he is aware of how tasking his new assignment is but is fully ready to actualize his goals.
He solicited the cooperation of officers and port users to sustain and surpass the impressive revenue records achieved by his predecessor who was the Command’s Area Controller before his recent elevation to Assistant Comptroller General Technical Services at Customs Headquarters.
While thanking the Acting Comptroller General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi for the task with an assurance to build on the achievements of his predecessor in the area of revenue, trade facilitation, anti-smuggling and promotion of customs community relations, Comptroller Jaiyeoba promised to adopt open door policy that will help foster trade, prevent revenue leakages and suppress smuggling.
Earlier while valedictory speech at the handing over ceremony, the immediate past Controller, ACG Auwal Mohammed thanked the Almighty Allah for His grace and mercy, and also expressed profound appreciation to the Acting Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR for his recent visit to Lagos which was motivating and encouraging to all at the Service. To him, “the joy of moving forward to serve our great country in higher office is laced with the nostalgic feeling of missing my colleagues, officials from other services and all other stakeholders in the Apapa port community.”
On revenue generated by the Command, ACG Auwal Mohammed disclosed that Apapa Command generated over N676billion as revenue for seven months, and made the highest monthly revenue collection of N136 billion for August 2023.
To him, it is noteworthy that on 3rd August 2023 Apapa Customs achieved the highest daily revenue in the command’s history with the collection of N10.09 billion.
“These figures and attainments are aftermath of dedication, intelligence, commitment and of course, zero tolerance for duty evasion.
“I recall the many intervention steps taken through alerts and issuance of demand notices to maximally collect identified shortfall revenues in duty payments after meticulous examinations.
We are assigned here to collect revenue, suppress smuggling and facilitate lawful trade. These are responsibilities bestowed with trust and as patriotic citizens, we must never betray the trust. Knowing that our job touches directly on the national economy, we have to discharge our duty having service and honesty in mind.
“For my friends in other services, our camaraderie as agents working for one government, united against criminals and deviants paid off with prevention of unlawful activities in Apapa Port.
“May I add that our inter-agency relationship with other government organizations contributed in making the area a crime free zone and few attempts to test our resolve met resistance. Seizures of arms, drugs and trade goods under prohibition during the seven months period attests to this reality.
“At this juncture, I want to specifically thank all my brothers and sisters in the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Department of State Service (DSS), Nigerian Army (NA), Nigerian Navy (NN), Nigeria Police (NP), Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), National Agency for Food Drug Administration and Control
(NAFDAC), Standards Organization of Nigeria (SON), Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service (NAQS), Port Health Service (PHS) and others.
“Our cooperation worked for the good of Nigeria and it is noble for us to stay on that path. Inter-agency synergy is the first bold step to frustrate crime and criminals in the port environment.
“We should never underestimate the essence of gathering, processing and sharing of credible intelligence, especially at the leadership level of our various service within the port, when crime is nipped in the bud at the port level, it means unwholesome things harmful to citizen’s health or capable of posing danger to the social and economic wellbeing of the society won’t find their way into our country.
“I want to request that a higher level of cooperation be given to my successor. This existing synergy should be sustained and improved upon, “he stressed.
