The Customs Area Controller for Oyo/Osun Area Command, Comptroller Ogunkua Tolutope has been conferred with the prestigious Transparency Medal Award by continental media organization, MSC Africa Magazine.
Similarly, two other officers of the Command, CSC Hinga Philip and DSC Alajogun Joseph also bagged ‘the Best Staff Officer of the Year’ and ‘the Best Operation Officer of the Year’ respectively from the same organization, at a presentation ceremony held on Monday at the Customs Boardroom in Ibadan, Oyo State capital.
According to the Customs Public Relations Officer, Onuigbo Ifeoma Ojekwu; Speaking while decorating the officers with the honorary awards, the Publisher of the continental magazine, Otunba Gbenga Adebayo acknowledged with delight, the feat recorded by the Oyo/Osun Command of the Nigeria Customs Service in the last few years by neutralizing the antics of smugglers and tremendously boosting the country’s revenue generation profile.
He specifically acknowledged the large number of seizures of contraband items and detention of those who in one way or the other involved themselves in various smuggling activities by the command and described the Customs Area Controller as a role model in view of the existing camaraderie between him and the officers and men.
He therefore enjoined other Commands to emulate the good gesture by ensuring synergy among their operatives for effectiveness.
In the same vein, he enjoined the members of the public to always see officers and men of the Customs Service as partners in progress saying “the era when the Customs is perceived as enemies of the society is over as the Customs remains one of the torchbearers of the national economy.”
“Only charlatans and smugglers will not see anything good in the Nigeria Customs service,” he reiterated.
Responding, Comptroller Ogunkua commended the management of the Continental Media Organization for their editorial judgment while advocating progressive and developmental journalism in the country as against the ugly culture of pull-him-down or blackmail syndrome.
