Abuja, June 27, 2023: The Acting Comptroller-General of Customs, Mr Wale Adeniyi, has assured the Nigeria of his commitment to bring an end to encumbrances experienced during trade.
Adeniyi gave the assurance when former Comptroller-General of Customs, retired Col. Hameed Ali, handed over to him on Monday in Abuja.
He said he would work towards simplifying trade processes, adding that encumbrances had impeded effective service delivery in the past.
According to him, Customs under his administration will build on the legacies of his predecessor, who piloted affairs of the service for almost eight years.
“We will build on the solid foundation you have laid for us and consolidate the things we are meeting on ground.
“We are going to engage very critically with our stakeholders and use innovative technologies to drive everything,” he said.
The acting comptroller-general said he would discharge his duties with utmost professionalism, fairness, transparency and integrity.
“This is the beginning of a new era in the Nigeria Customs Service.
“This call to duty signifies a great responsibility to serve our nation as a trade facilitator and enforcer of government policies.
“It demands professionalism, integrity and highest ethical standards,” he said.
The customs boss said the service had over the last seven years embarked on a transformation journey focused on reform, restructuring and revenue generation.
He said he would prioritise efficiency in service delivery, adding that it was the bedrock of trade facilitation and revenue generation.
He further said he would ensure career advancement, staff welfare, technological advancement, and collaboration with other government agencies and relevant stakeholders.
“We will promote dialogue for more efficiency, effectiveness and ensure transparency, fairness, equity, integrity as well as consolidation of the modernisation process.
On challenges, Adeniyi said “we face emerging trend like criminal networks that requires our utmost attention.
“We must adapt to this changing landscape by collaborating with international partners, law enforcement agencies and customs administrations of other nations.”
The acting comptroller of customs said he would work towards implementating the new Customs Act.
He thanked President Bola Tinubu for his appointment, adding that he would be committed to the success of the service and the nation at large.
Adeniyi said he would be fair to all, show respect to all and ensure that he left Customs better than he met it.
On policies of his predecessor, Adeniyi said Ali’s effort at revamping the service was well appreciated, saying “you discharged your duties to the best of your ability.
“Some of us think you are too hard. However, we cannot take away the fact that you are a firm leader,” he said.
The acting comptroller said one of the major lessons he learnt from Ali was, “as a leader you need to be firm.”
He said the service made progress in terms of processes, training and retraining among other things during Ali’s tenure.
In his remarks, the former Customs comptroller-general said it was important for Customs officers to uphold professionalism and integrity.
He said that “Customs is one of the most critical, professional and technical service in the world.
“We have been able to build the service to be respected.
“There were obstacles no doubt, but we did our best within our capacity to reposition it.
“If there is any legacy I want to leave behind it is honour and integrity and we must put God first in whatever we do.”
He further said, “Our policeman as humans is our conscience and it will tell you if the decision you want to take is right or wrong”.
He said he was happy with the fact that Adeniyi was chosen as his successor, adding that he had the qualities to continue from where he stopped.
The high point of the event was presentation of gift item to the former comptroller-general.
Adeniyi is the 14th indigenous comptroller-general of customs and 31st since its establishment in 1891.
