By Martins Ikhilae
Ideally, facilitation of international trade, when considered from genuine perspectives, is not a novel concept in Nigeria and its Customs.
Additionally, there is also the need for rotational leadership at customs area commands as it relates to change in area commands leadership or area chief executives. This move intermittently is certain to entrench, regularly, outright progress in the general performance of the agency and its professionally committed personnel.
Conscientiously, the Customs Comptroller General (CGC), Mr. Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, who leads the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), appears all out to entrench professionalism, distinct progressive ideology, discipline and purity in all ramifications.
One can assert that the choice of Adeniyi as the most appropriate CGC is not in doubt, having cut “a befitting set of teeth” from working with previous also considerably experienced chief executives of the agency.
The CGC is unequivocally and administratively more of a blessing to the Federal Republic of Nigeria, having displayed determination, doggedness, zeal, commitment and patriotic virtues that have so far brought to the fore applaudable increase in revenue generation/collection, anti-smuggling operations, technological advancement and discipline in customs operations.
Corroborating these assertions recently while being handed the staff of office as the new sectional head of the Nigeria Customs Service at the Federal Operations Unit, Zone ‘A’, Ikeja, Lagos State, Comptroller Mohammed Salisu Shuaibu eulogized the leadership qualities of the NCS chief executive, which he said has successfully ushered in numerous progressive and dynamic inputs for the customs, in particular, and Nigerians generally.
The Zone ‘A’ Area Comptroller, who promised not to leave any stone unturned in his quest for an internationally comparable service, averred that he was ready to ensure that the confidence reposed in him by the NCS leadership was not misplaced.
He asserted that, under his watch, the command would continuously record significant breakthroughs, among which are increase in revenue collection, enhanced anti-smuggling operations as well as improved community engagement. This anticipated dedication to duty, as well as strategic foresight, are bound to raise the bar, with a view to instituting a legacy worthy of emulation.
At the well attended event, which was witnessed by numerous NCS stakeholders in the command, management team and media representatives, the new command head, who expressed confidence that he was aware of the unique operational environment of the command, with its vast personnel deployment, dynamic socio-economic activities as well as its ever-evolving security landscape, also maintained that he was conscious of the strategic importance of the command to national economy and border security.
Determined to successfully stir up the command’s performance for success, Comptroller Shuaibu explained that he would consolidate on the gains already recorded and pursue vigorously continuous improvement in the areas of efficiency, enforcement, intelligence-led operations, stakeholders’ collaboration and excellent community relations.
Itemizing the core mandates of the service to include revenue generation, suppression of smuggling, facilitation of legitimate trade and protection of national security, Comptroller Shuaibu urged personnel of the command to be committed, disciplined and professional in attitude to duty, as the team’s success would be largely dependent on its unity of purpose, adherence to ethical conduct and pursuit of excellence while simultaneously sustaining the culture of diligence to ensure that the command becomes a role model of efficiency and dynamism in service delivery.
Assuring domiciled traditional rulers/ community heads, residents in the host communities and well-meaning stakeholders of his resolve to continually operate an open-door policy for access ability while building on the existing robust partnership, the comptroller maintained that a befitting collaboration in a manner that would foster mutual understanding, peace and good progress would be appropriately encouraged.
Comptroller Shuaibu, as a paramilitary personality, did not fail to sound a note of warming to perceived economic saboteurs and smugglers who may wish to test the command’s operational strength and resolve, as no act of economic sabotage will be condoned by the agency.
“We shall deploy all lawful means to combat smuggling and enforce compliance with extant trade laws and regulations with a firm, fair and intelligence-driven approach,” he stressed.
Expressing optimism, the new command head also asserted that although the journey ahead will be challenging, he was confident that success was achievable, considering the NCS solid foundation as a key player in the nation’s economic and security architecture.
In trying to assert oneself as a success-driven, no-nonsense leader, one is certain to make some very difficult decisions, which would ruffle feathers, and step on toes, though these decisions are not adopted for personal aggrandizement but rather in the interest of all and, therefore, capable of changing the command dramatically both in revenue generation, structures, trade facilitation and anti-smuggling activities.
Indeed there is no doubting the facts that dynamism and distinctiveness are basic ingredients necessary for effective and efficient leadership, which Comptroller Shuaibu, like his boss, appears to have determined to uphold and implement for the progress of the NCS and Nigeria at large.
It is believed that the good intentions of the Nigeria Customs headquarters will be heavily replicated by the new helmsman at NCS Federal Operations Zone ‘A’, Ikeja, such that posterity will judge decently the outings which could bring about notable applause for historic purposes.
• Ikhilae is a public affairs analyst, email: [email protected]; 08023405821