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As 7-Up partners Customs in sport

By Eguono Odjegba
The Coordinator of the South West, Nigeria Customs Service, Assistant Comptroller General Aminu Dahiru, last week commissioned a One-Stop-Shop centre for the resolution of disputes arising from cargo clearance at the Tin Can Island command of the Service.

Customs CG, Hameed Ali

The commissioning was done as part of the continuation of the tour of commands under his jurisdiction to afford the coordinator the opportunity to see things for himself, and to address his officers and men on sundry issues relating to their job. He also commissioned a mobile sports pitch, to keep officers and men of the command physically and mentally fit and alert.

Customs Area Controller of the Command, Musa M.B.A, said the sporting infrastructure was donated by 7-Up Bottling Company as part of the company’s corporate social responsibility.

While showing the Zonal Coordinator and his entourage round the One-Stop-Shop, Musa explained that the centre was designed to facilitate trade in line with Government Ease of Doing Business, reduce delays and promote efficiency and transparency under a single common user dispute resolution centre.

The centre which is fitted with an ICT aided viewing screen by clearing agents and their importers from a back lobby, also has a fully equipped ICT system which the CAC said would be managed by ‘proper personnel’.

In addition, Dahiru also commissioned a befitting cafeteria at the command, meant to avail officers and men quality and affordable in-house feeding, also designed to end the regime of personnel scouting for places to eat outside of the command.

During his address to officers and men at the parade ground, the Coordinator enjoined personnel to remain alive and highly responsible to the rules of engagement in the conduct of its official business, and not be caught doing anything that will adversely affect the collection and generation of government revenue.

“I have preached one sermon everywhere I have visited, and it is the same I have come here to preach to you. Our revenue collection and generation role is very important to government and we cannot allow a situation where our conduct, actions and inactions will create room for leakages”, he said, adding:

“Our career as officers demands high level of commitment and patriotism to the national service of generating revenue for government. Don’t lose focus, don’t allow yourself to be used as errand boys by unscrupulous importers or clearing agents. We are here to protect you and will continue to do, but this is only possible when insist on what is right and lawful. If you are caught in the act of compromise, you are on your own.”