Trade Facilitation, Compliance Take Centre Stage As New FOU Zone ‘C’ Boss, Nadaniya, Meets Stakeholders In Owerri
By Success Okezie
The Acting Comptroller of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Operations Unit (FOU), Zone ‘C’ Owerri, Deputy Comptroller Farouk Nadaniya, has pledged to deepen synergy with stakeholders to enhance legitimate trade, ensure compliance and protect government revenue.
Nadaniya gave the assurance on Thursday during a high-level stakeholders’ engagement meeting held at the Zonal Headquarters in Owerri, Imo State.
The meeting, which was his first official interaction with stakeholders since assuming office, brought together Deputy Comptrollers, Assistant Comptrollers, other senior officers of the Service, licensed customs agents, importers, exporters and key players in the business community.
In his address, the Acting Comptroller expressed gratitude to Almighty Allah for the opportunity to serve, and extended profound appreciation to the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, and his Management Team for the confidence reposed in him.
He described his appointment as “a great honour and a call to higher responsibility,” noting that his relationship with stakeholders in the Zone was not entirely new.
Nadaniya recalled his previous assignments with the Strike Force, Zone ‘C’, and his recent posting as Deputy Comptroller in charge of Compliance at Port Harcourt II Area Command, Onne, experiences which he said gave him deep insight into the vital role stakeholders play in actualizing the Service’s mandate.
According to him, the meeting was convened to consolidate the existing cordial relationship, foster mutual understanding, and seek continued cooperation in advancing the objectives of the Nigeria Customs Service.
“Effective discharge of our statutory responsibilities requires a strong partnership between the Service and its stakeholders,” he stressed.
He listed facilitation of legitimate trade, protection of government revenue, enforcement of extant customs laws and regulations, and combating smuggling and other illicit trades as collective priorities that can only be achieved through trust, transparency, professionalism and mutual respect.
While assuring of an open-door, fair and accountable leadership anchored on professionalism and the overall interest of the nation, Nadaniya appealed to stakeholders to ensure strict compliance with Customs procedures and regulations, especially on transire operations.
He also expressed concern over the persistent backlog of unutilized SGDs (Single Goods Declarations), describing it as a major challenge to revenue collection, which remains a core responsibility of the Service.
“The persistent backlog has necessitated the deployment of Customs Police for revenue recovery. I urge you to seize this opportunity to address the situation decisively and ensure prompt clearance of all outstanding SGDs,” he warned.
Nadaniya, however, clarified that the Service’s commitment to trade facilitation will not compromise its enforcement mandate, stressing that while compliant traders will be supported and encouraged, deliberate violators will face the full wrath of the law.
He commended stakeholders for the support extended to his predecessor and solicited the same level of goodwill, cooperation and understanding to build on past achievements and improve operational efficiency and service delivery within the Zone.
The parley ended with renewed commitment by both sides to deepen collaboration for the benefit of the Service, the business community and the nation at large.
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