….lists reform priorities
The new Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Adewale Adeniyi, has promised to continue with the reforms of his predecessor, Col. Hameed Ali (rtd), to further consolidate on the achievements recorded so far and further improve the operations of the Service in line with its statutory mandate,
Adewale, made this pledge shortly after he was decorated by the Vice President, Alhaji Kashim Shettima, with his new rank at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
While expressing optimism that the new appointee will bring professionalism to the Service, the Vice President urged other personnel to aspire to the zenith of their profession.
Shettima said: “Congratulations for bringing professionalism back to the Nigerian Customs Service. Now, every Customs officer can aspire to occupy the pinnacle of his or her profession.
“I wish you well, on behalf of the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Congratulations, once again”, the Vice President added
Speaking to journalists shortly after his decoration with the insignia of the new position, Adeniyi thanked President Bola Tinubu for appointing a serving officer as the head of the agency, assuring him and Nigerians of a more effective and innovation-driven Customs service.
He said that over the past eight years, the Service had gone through a period of transformation, adding that “in some areas, we recorded progress;- we made remarkable progress in e-Customs; we made a lot of breakthroughs in capacity building.
“But the Customs service can still live up to its full potentials when we bring in more innovation to drive Customs operations. These are the kind of things we are looking at in the years ahead,” Adeniyi added
The Comptroller-General promised that the Service would be professionally run during his tenure and that he would collaborate with key agencies to maintain high standards of its operations.
He expatiated: “Our administration is committed to adopting a bottom-up approach, where the needs of our dear nation take precedence over everything else. We will prioritize efficiency in service delivery as the bedrock of trade facilitation and revenue generation. No longer shall encumbrances impede trade; we shall dismantle obstacles and foster a new culture of consultations and compliance.
“In order to achieve our objectives, it is imperative that we bridge the current human resource gap within our ranks. We recognize the importance of capacity building and career advancement for our officers. The administration will work diligently to implement career advancement opportunities approved by the board, ensuring that competence remains.
“As we embark on this new journey, we recognize the need for collaboration and partnerships. We value the relationships we have built with our Partner Government Agencies and the private sector. These collaborations have been vital to our adoption of technology as a tool to enhance revenue generation and streamline processes.
“We will strengthen these partnerships and engage with stakeholders through revitalized platforms. By promoting dialogue, we can resolve disputes and advance mutually beneficial solutions that lead to more efficient and effective service. The Nigeria Customs Service will continue to treat its esteemed stakeholders as partners who have a stake in our success”, the Comptroller-General added.
