By Ifeyinwa Obi
30 senior customs   officers are set to depart Nigeria for Canada, for a leadership development program slated to hold in Toronto.

Customs image_maker and spokesman, Mr. Wale Adeniyi told newsmen that the program is focused on growing pro_active management skills, hence the decision to target decision makers across NCS.

According to him, “The program aim to equip participants with tested tool and powerful insights to leaders downward across colleagues, as well as upward and outward”, adding that the present team which would be led by ACG Garuba Mekarfi, would depart Nigeria this month for the 6_day intensive training programme.

The Comptroller General of Customs, Alhaji Dikko Abdullahi and nine others attended a similar training program held in May this year, and were so impressed by the content and quality of the training programme, that they decided that the package must be extended to several others; a decision which actually culminated in this present program.

Speaking further, Mr Adeniyi confirmed that the Service was now putting finishing touches towards holding a stakeholders retreat in Lagos and Port Harcourt, sequel to the success of the retreat now concluded in the North, to consider inputs into ongoing review of the Customs Excise and Management Act (CEMA).   The first of such retreat was held in Kaduna between July 21st and 24th, 2010.