COMPT. CC DIM OF EASTERN MARINE COMMAND VISITS ONNE OUTSTATION
By Mcanthony Onuoha
The Customs Area Controller, Eastern Marine Command, Comptroller Chika C Dim, recently, embarked on a 2 day working visit to Onne Outstation and other formations in his bid to ensure effective operations and collaboration.
Other areas visited by the Command’s Controller include;
Area 2 Command Onne, Oron Outstation and a stop over at the Nigerian Navy
FOB Ibaka and Calabar Outstation/Akwa Ibom, Free Trade Zone(FTZ) Calabar Command. The visitation took place on the 30th and 31st of May, 2024.
In a press release signed by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, Chief Superintendent of Customs, Emmanuel Tangwa, and made available to The Prestige Blended Magazine, it stated that,
“The Eastern Marine Command of the Nigeria Customs Service which is responsible for overseeing Marine-related Customs activities in the South-South region of Nigeria. And in its bid to ensure effective operations and collaboration, the Command’s Controller, Compt. CC DIM, embarked on a familiarization/working visit to outstations in Onne, Akwa-Ibom and Calabar areas. The purpose of the visitation was to meet with officers, check the conditions of the Nigeria Customs Service gun boats, discuss collaboration with other agencies and engage with stakeholders on key issues affecting the maritime domain in his Area of Responsibility (AoR).
The visit to Officers at Onne Outstation began with a meeting with officers, Compt. CC DIM addressed them and discussed the importance of the role of securing the maritime domain. He also checked the conditions of their gun boats and emphasized the need for proper maintenance to ensure optimum performance. He told the officers that the Service has spent much in purchasing the gun boats hence the need for thorough maintenance. The officers were also reminded of the Services’ Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) and the importance of adhering to them.
The stop over at Customs Area Command, Onne Area 2 Command
later the same day on his way to Oron outstation where he was warmly received by Comptroller M Babandede to the Command. Both of them discussed on how Area 2 Command could be of help to Eastern Marine Command thus deepening the collaboration between the two commands.
Meeting with the Commanding Officer of Nigerian Navy FOB Ibaka in continuation of his familiarization/working visit, Comptroller Dim met with the Commanding Officer of the Nigeria Navy Forward Operating Base at Ibaka in the Oron axis of Akwa Ibom State, Captain U. Anaeke. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss ways to deepen collaboration in the marine domain in Ibaka area. The Commanding Officer and his officers were commended for their efforts in securing the area and preventing illegal activities. The CAC emphasized the need for continuous collaboration to ensure safe and efficient maritime environment.
The next stopping point during his tour was his visit to Comptroller CG OGBONNA of Akwa Ibom, FTZ Calabar in his office. According to the PRO, The purpose of the visit was to discuss how the presence of the Eastern Marine Command could be felt in the Calabar area. The two Comptrollers discussed ways to improve collaboration and ensure effective operations in the region. At the Calabar EMC Jetty, the CAC went round the premises to examine the state of things which was not befitting for Customs Operations.
Finally, the working visit of the CAC EMC to Onne Outstation, Area 2 command Onne, Nigerian Navy FOB Ibaka, the Stakeholders Engagement and the visit to Akwa Ibom and FTZ Calabar Command was a success.
The visitation according to the PRO, provided an opportunity for the Comptroller to meet with officers, assess the conditions of Customs gun boats docked at Onne and at Marine Police Jetty in Oron and discuss collaboration with other agencies. The Stakeholders engagement meeting and the visit to comptroller CG OGBONNA in Calabar also tilted towards the overall objective of strengthening partnership in the South- South marine domain. Comptroller CC DIM reiterated one of Comptroller Generals’ cardinal focus which is collaboration, and emphasized the importance of team work to secure Nigeria’s Maritime environment.
