ICD: MAIWADA’s TEAM RECEIVE A DELUGE OF ACCOLADES FOR SPLENDID CONDUCT
… earn Comptroller General’s commendation
… as CGC announces launch of Time Release Study in February 2024
By Mcanthony Onuoha
The National Public Relations Officer (NPRO) of the Nigeria Customs Service-NCS, Abdullahi Aliu Maiwada and his team have been commended by the NCS and industry Stakeholders for the ingenuity brought to bare in organizing the International Customs Day- ICD, 2024.
The Nigeria Customs Service-NCS, had joined its counterparts across the world to commemorate International Customs Day- ICD, on 26th of January, 2024, at Customs Training College, Ikeja, Lagos.
THE HONOURABLE MINISTER OF MARINE AND BLUE ECONOMY, ADEGBOYEGA OYETOLA, DELIVERING HIS KEYNOTE ADDRESS AT THE EVENT
The team for this year’s event was “Customs Engaging Traditional And New Partners With Purpose.” The event, which was well attended by revered personalities, government delegates, captains of industry and Maritime and Aviation stakeholders appeared to be the best organized International Customs Day- ICD by the Nigeria Customs Service-NCS.
THE PR UNIT OF THE NIGERIA CUSTOMS SERVICE-NCS
Dignitaries that graced the occasion include, the Honourable Minister for Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, CON., Honourable Minister of Finance/Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edu, ably represented, WCO Secretary General, Mr. Ian Sanders, Honourable Minister of Trade and Investment, Dr. Doris Uzoka- Anite, ably represented by the Executive Director/CEO, Nigerian Export Promotion Council, Nonye Ayeni. Others are the Managing Director of Nigeria Ports Authority- NPA, Mohammed Bello- Koko, the Managing Director/CEO, Nigerian Shipper’s Council- NSC, Akutah Pius Ukeyima as well as the Director General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency- NIMASA, Dr. Bashir Jamoh CFR.
The event commenced with a welcome address by Assistant Comptroller General, Strategic Research and Policy, while the Comptroller General of Customs, BA Adeniyi MFR, dsm, fnipr, psc(+) made the opening remarks. The keynote Address was made by the Special Guest of Honour, the Honourable Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, CON.
Meanwhile, the PR Unit of the Nigeria Customs Service-NCS led by the NPRO, Abdullahi Maiwada, received a deluge of encomiums for a job well done. Maiwada and his team’s management of the event has been described as “flawless” by stakeholders. They have been commending the entire PR Unit of the Nigeria Customs for bringing to bear uncommon ingenuity in the conduct of this year’s event.
However, the Comptroller General of Customs BA Adeniyi MFR, seized the special moment to commend Maiwada and his team for their unrelenting efforts and patriotism. The CGC noted that the PR Unit recommended personalities and organizations to honour with awards but never thought of itself as deserving of the same honour. He disclosed that he was the one that nominated Maiwada for the prestigious award but the NPRO turned down the honour but rather appealed to him (the CGC) to honour the entire PR Unit with the award instead of him alone.
Earlier in his speech, the CGC noted that choosing the theme for this year’s celebration, ” Customs Engaging Traditional And New Partners With Purpose”, aligned with the Service’s core objective as outlined in the three point agenda of Consideration, Innovation, and Collaboration.
Stating further, the CGC said that the agenda has been the guiding principle” providing a framework for our actions over the past seven months of steering our Customs activities under my administration”. He expressed the NCS’s Commitment to fostering substantially improved relationships with compliant stakeholders in the new year.
In his words, “this year, we commit to fostering a substantially improved relationship with all of you, our stakeholders, especially, those who respect our rules . We recognize that authentic partnership are constructed on mutual respect and understanding. Those who remain compliant and abide by the rules can anticipate a more streamlined and supportive collaboration”.
Going further, the CGC announced the launch of a Time Release Study in February 2024, “this is a comprehensive exercise aimed at optimizing our processes and reducing the time it takes for goods to be released in our ports and border stations. This Study is a scientific and strategic move towards enhancing our operations and l call upon the cooperation of all our partners, particularly those of you already organized under the framework of National Trade Facilitation Committee to actively participate in this endeavour,” the CGC urged.
