The World Customs Organization (WCO) conferred a prestigious Award on Tincan Island Port Command during this year’s International Customs Day (ICD) with the theme “TO SECURE BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT”.
Making the presentation on behalf of the WCO Secretary General KUNIO MIKURIYA, the Comptroller General of Customs, COL HAMEED IBRAHIM ALI (Rtd), informed the audience that the International Customs Day celebrated by Customs Administrations all over the world, provid an opportunity to X-ray, review and evaluate the role of Customs in Nation building as a Revenue Generating Agency, stating further that the theme for the year was apt considering the state of insecurity and challenges in Nigeria and the world at large.
Explaining the giant strides of the service in 2017, the CGC declared that the Service generated 1.3 trillion into the Nations Coffers, did remarkably well in anti-smuggling operations through spectacular seizures among others.
A statement issued by Public Relations Officer, UCHE EJESIEME, quoted the CGC as saying the International event was also an auspicious moment to recognize private and public organizations as well as officers and units that have demonstrated outstanding performance during the period under reference for awards by the WCO.
While receiving the award on behalf of the Command, the Comptroller BASHAR YUSUF recalled the exploits of the command in the past two years.
The obviously elated Comptroller BASHAR said:“I assumed leadership of the command at a time its rating was at lowest ebb in terms of functionality in areas of Revenue and Seizures which forms the core mandate of the Command.
“I thank God Almighty for giving me the wherewithal to justify the confidence reposed in me by the CGC and his Management which is evidenced in this International Award.
“I therefore dedicate it to the Entire Tincan Team, comprising the officers/men, the CIU, Valuation, PCA, the Customs Brokers, critical Stakeholders and the Media for their tremendous support”
it will be recalled that Comptroller BASHAR in the last two years generated over five hundred and forty four billion, forty-nine million, six hundred and twenty- one thousand, five hundred and fifteen naira (N544,049,621,515) in Revenue through various far reaching reforms which he instituted.
Part of the reform agenda was the building of a ICT Training Centre as well as a fully equipped clinic which was officially commissioned by the CGC on the 11th of November 2017.
The training facility has been used to train over one thousand two hundred (1,200) people, including officers and other stakeholders. On the area of seizures, the command in the past two years recorded very unique seizures which included but not limited to;
Cocaine with a street value of over two (2) billion naira concealed in a container.
900 Cartridges/Military Hardware
Recovery of suspected stolen two (2) Range Rover and repatriation of same through Interpol to United State of America
Seizure of substandard/Regulated Tramadol Containers
Large quantity of Biafran Arms band
31 containers of rice falsely declared as yeast/bread enhancer
20 x 20 containers of Vegetable Oil falsely declared as Disodium Phosphate
On assumption, the CAC drew the attention of officers/men to the change ideology and mantra of the CGC which is anchored on tripod of – Restructure, Reform and Revenue Generation. These provided an operational template and road map which guides the operation and which eventually guaranteed historical results being celebrated at the instance of WCO. The name of the Command which comptroller BASHAR epitomizes would have been written in gold, especially when he considers the trajectory of the command in the past viz-a-viz these achievement.
All these landmark seizures gave the command the sobriquet of a “Benchmark Command” which provided the needed impetus for the subsequent trail blazing records. These records culminated into commendation letters by the Comptroller General of Customs in the following areas.
Commendation for exercising due diligence in the interception of “Pro-Biafran” materials.
Commendation for the interception of 1 x 40ft container laden with sophisticated Military Hardware.
