Jude Nzennaya, Port Harcourt
The outgoing Customs Area Controller (CAC), Port Harcourt, Chedi Wada has handed over the Area 1 Command of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) to Comptroller Yola Mustapha Hashim as the new CAC.
Briefing the Press during the handover ceremony, Wada said his administration on assumption of office in January, 2023 recorded a total revenue of N89.574bn as against N72.463bn in 2022.
This, he said amounts to difference of N10.858bn, representing 13.8% increase, despite low cargo influx during the ten months.
According to him, major chunk of the revenue came from import duties collected from bulk cargoes.
Wada said March and August recorded the highest revenue of N23.509bn as against N17.987bn in 2022.
The former CAC said his administration has already collected the sum of N11.909bn in October this year, believing that more revenue will be raked in before the end of the year.
He attributed the feat to continuous engagement with stakeholders through sensitizations and trainings, especially on Non-conformity with Statutory Clearance Procedures, with its attendant feedbacks.
He said other areas of training include Import and Export Procedures, Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Fast-track 20 and Customs Related Commercial Fraud, among others.
Wada identified other sources of revenue as proceeds from demand notices issued to importers with infractions in their importations.
He equally said that the Command facilitated the export of 30,000Metric Tons of charcoal and 26,000 MT of Zinc and Lead through Ibeto Wharf.
The immediate past CAC said his administration emphasized on 100 per cent physical examination of cargoes to check smuggling, the policy he said paid off.
Wada thanked officers of the Command, stakeholders for the support and cooperation given to him and urged them to extend same to the new Comptroller, describing him as a very experienced officer.
“I am leaving the command a very happy person, having done the little I can to move Area 1 Command forward, as we all know what goes around comes around, I give Glory to God Almighty for His mercies and for those who doesn’t now Wada in reality, Wada was trained as a teacher”
Further he advise officers and men “knowledge is power share it, don’t be stingy with it and that is why I have insisted on capacity building, wherever you find yourself be fair enough and leave the rest as history will not forget you, synergy is the key to success, individually we cannot lift this country up but by joining hands together we can lift our dear country up with common interest, the new Comptroller is my brother and giving you the assurance that he will deliver and even surpass what we have done”, he concludes.
Addressing the gathering, officers and stakeholders, during the handover ceremony, the new CAC, Comptroller Hashim lauded Comptroller Wada for his achievements during his tenure, promising to consolidate and even surpass the record.
” It is my pleasure and honor to be with you here once again, today we are marking the beginning of a new tenure and at same time of another tenure I am part and parcel of Area 1, I was here as deputy Controller two years ago and I can assure you it will be well with everyone one of us”, Hashim said.
He called for cooperation of the stakeholders and discipline on the part of the officers.
Hashim tasked the officers not to hesitate in seeking clarifications when the need arises that he operates an open door policy.
“I count on your maximum support giving during Comptroller Chedi Wada be extended to me the synergy and harmony should be maintained as we cannot work without each other and we all know that it takes two to tangle, I wish Comptroller Wada success in all his endeavor”
Off some terminal operators leaving Area 1 the new Comptroller said ” I heard some operators are about leaving Area 1 for the places but you know the funny part of it all, these operators are the I and some of our officers assisted in securing their licenses so I wonder why they choose to leave now that I am coming in as Area controller, I would like to talk to their official and see how to work out things”.
