Comptroller Mohammed Babandede takes over the leadership of the Area II Customs Command Onne Port in Rivers State as the Area Controller
Jude Nzennaya Port Harcourt
It was a grand handing over and taking over ceremony at the Area II Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Onne Rivers State as the Command held a parade in honour of the out-going Customs Area Controller (CAC), Comptroller Baba Imam and the in-coming Area Controller, Comptroller Mohammed Babandede.
The occasion had in attendance to witness the parade, various stakeholders, heads of security agencies and the business community working in the port environment. Comptroller Imam in his farewell address, appreciated God for His mercy and love, he also appreciated the Controller General of Customs B. A Adeniyi, for the opportunity to serve as the CAC of the Command. He extended same appreciation to all security agencies and stakeholders and attributed the successes recorded in the Command under his watch to the improved synergy, intelligence sharing and cooperation he enjoyed while working with them.
Speaking further the out-gone Controller stated that in the area of revenue collection, his leadership set an unprecedented record in the history of the Command by generating in a single day, over N22 billion. He also said in the first three months of the year 2024, the Command generated over N162 billion which is more than the revenue generated from January to July (Seven months) in year 2023.
Comptroller Imam emphasised that officers and men of the Command have been trained with the view to bringing attitudinal change to enhance trade facilitation in the Command. He recounted some of the achievements made during his 15 months stay as the Area Controller which include construction of a 110-seater capacity Conference Room with modern facilities, creation of a Computer training centre with 50 computers to enhance capacity building.
Comptroller Imam said both facilities were open for use by both Customs officers and stakeholders who need them.
He continued that Officers could not have made significant impact in trade facilitation if their homes were in disarray, hence he appreciated his wife who was the Chairperson, Customs Officers Wives Association, Onne Chapter and said in order to appreciate COWA for all they do, the Command was able to establish a COWA office within the Customs House, refurbish a canteen in the office and two additional canteens in the Customs Barracks.
Also he said that the Command established two saloons in the barracks, for male and female from which the proceed goes to the Association.
The in-coming Area Controller, Comptroller Babandede promised to sustain the cordial relationship already established in the Command with a view to improving the synergy and added that he would also operate an open door policy.
He said, “I will operate an open door policy just like the out-going Area Controller and I implore all officers and men in the Command to give me their support as they continue their good work.
“This will help improve on the successes recorded with the aim to enhance revenue generation, value addition and suppression of smuggling”.
Speaking on behalf of all the security agencies within the port environment, the Commandant of the Nigeria Navy Basic Training School, Commodore G J Kashim said the out-going Controller had instilled and improved synergy among the security agencies which he commended and prayed for more success for him in his next duty post.
He also enjoined the in-coming Controller to maintain the cordial relationship already established by his predecessor.
On behalf of the Container Terminals situated within the port, the Managing Director of Onne Multipurpose Terminal, Mr Jim Steward said Comptroller Imam has made Container Terminal activities seamless with his intervention in reducing most of the bottlenecks they experienced in the Cargo clearing process.
