Comptroller Auwal Mohammed takes up the mantle of the leadership at the Apapa Area I Customs Command, Lagos as the Customs Area Controller (CAC), and pledges to sustain the culture of re-modeling of the premier port as bequeathed to him by his immediate predecessor, acting Assistant Comptroller General (ACG) Mallanta Yusuf
By Innocent Chukwu
On Friday, January 27, 2023, Comptroller Auwal Mohammed took over the mantle of leadership as the Customs Area Controller at Apapa Area1 Port Customs Command, Lagos. The immediate past CAC of the Port Harcourt Area ll, Onne Port Customs Command, arrived Apapa late January with a record-breaking history of revenue generation achievement trailing behind him.
At the end of the year 2022, Comptroller Mohammed had achieved a revenue record of over N242 billion for the Onne Part Customs Command for that year. The new customs boss at Apapa Area I Command is a well-known due process customs top shot who had since restated his determination to step into the big shoes left for him by his immediate predecessor, now the Assistant Comptroller General (ACG) Mallanta Yusuf, who now oversees the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and Modernization Unit, Customs headquarters Abuja.
With his reputation for due process deployment in achieving strategic goals, Comptroller Mohammed also pledged that with his record performance at the Onne Port in River State, he would deploy every rational process and procedure to make sure that under his watch, the Apapa Area I Command would surpass the revenue generation of the command for the year 2022.
Comptroller Auwal, while speaking briefly to the officers and men of the Apapa Area I Command at the parade ground in the command’s premises preceding the official handover ceremony on the said date, insisted that part of his strategy to lead the command in 2023, is the deployment of the 100 percent physical examination of cargoes despite the use of the scanners in the port.
The CAC reiterated that his main reason to insist on the deployment of the physical examination strategy is to ensure that none of his officers would release un-custom cargoes in error.
Comptroller Mohammed: “We know how the Federal Government rely on officers working in his command to generate and collect revenue and suppress smuggling. I know it is a big shoe I’m about to step in, but I assure you I can fit in.
“My first assignment is to make sure that I sustain the tempo of remodeling Apapa port which my immediate predecessor, the acting ACG ICT and Modernization Unit has begun.
“I am appealing to officers not to relent but to double your effort as you worked with my senior colleague. On my part, I will do my best”.
On the 100 percent physical examination of containers, Comptroller Mohammed asserted, “No cargo must leave the terminal without proper examination so that you don’t release un-custom cargo in error.
“Please, I will request that the business community should always make true and proper declaration in order to avoid unnecessary delays and unnecessary intervention. We will do everything possible to surpass the one trillion naira mark”.
Earlier in his address to the officers at the parade ground, acting ACG Yusuf had warned the officers to be very careful in their performances because the symbol of due process, Comptroller Mohammed, has taken over the leadership position of the command, and must be supported by all officers so that the new CAC would accomplish bigger feats.
Acting ACG Yusuf said, “Auwal Mohammed is a due diligence and due process officer. Comptroller Mohammed symbolizes due process. We are now in the era of due process. So, you must comply with his due process style.
“Auwal, I wish you the best of luck. I know you can do it better than I have done because you are a team player and a consistent officer”.
Reminding the officers of the need to give all diligence to their duties, the acting ACG Yusuf said further, “Keep up the remodeling of Apapa port, diligence is very important.
“The essence of leadership is to groom followers. I can see many of you here who will go far in the service. From N870 billion in 2021 to N1.022 trillion in 2022 is not a small achievement. This feat could not be achieved without you the officers. It is by your own perseverance and support that we achieved it. I, therefore, dedicate this feat to all of you.
“We made seizures of cocaine and tramadol. These seizures could find their way into the market without your intervention. We have a coordinated synergy which helped us to track every seizure in this command, keep it up please.
“If anybody brings illicit trade in Apapa it’s not going to work. We made a lot of traders to comply.
Look at how smart and beautiful you look in your uniform. About 95 per cent of you are smart in your uniform, please keep it up.
The new Area Controller should continue this remodeling of Apapa port. I will continue to nurture and lecture you wherever I am. I have worked with many officers, but you are the best officers I’ve worked with. Keep it up with the new Area Controller”.
Acting ACG Yusuf also seized the opportunity to reward a few exceptional officers of the command whom he said remained his hand lifters while he headed the command. The reward came in the form of “Certificate of Commendation” which Yusuf signed himself to urge the officers on to better and higher performance.
Yusuf said, “Some individuals (officers) played roles to ensure that compliance was strictly upheld. Am sure they will continue to display this effort so that others can join them. If your name does not appear in this award, I will advise you to work harder, your own reward will appear”.
Some of the officers given the Certificate of Commendation for outstanding performance include Chief Superintendent of Customs (CSC) AA Musa whom Yusuf said was rewarded because he is a utility officer, for his creativity, follow-up action on all processes, zeal in remodeling the command. CS Musa is the Technical Supervisor in the Command’s Processing Centre (CPC). CSC A Isa, CSC SA Aliyu whom Yusuf said are consistent with their duties, were also commended.
Others are CSC US Abba who is the Coordinator and Liaison Officer in the command’s Compliance Section whom Yusuf credited with ensuring industrial harmony in the command. CSC H Mohammed according to Yusuf is the officer who knows and understands the command’s system auditing, he also was honoured by Yusuf.
Also rewarded are, CSC Miko, an ICT wizard in the CPC of the Apapa Area I Command. CSC Miko works tirelessly in helping the command recover revenues that would have been lost to unpatriotic business people, according to Yusuf. Miko is the 2IC of the Query and Amendment Seat in the CPC. CSC AA Tukur is the Forensic Officer of the Command who was rewarded for his diligence, as well as CSC Usman, the image maker of the Command whom ACG Yusuf referred to as among the best brains in customs Public Relations management. Another officer who was eulogized by the acting ACG Yusuf is CSC MN Eli for his due diligence and meticulous approach to duty, as well as a Superintendent of Customs (SC) Zarma who is the Staff Officer at the ENL Terminal. ACG Yusuf said SC Zarma is an expert in the classification of items, stressing that only a highly intelligent, passionate and knowledgeable officer can be trusted with the position of a staff officer at the ENL Terminal which is regarded as the revenue mainstay of the Apapa Area I Command.
