…Restates Commitment to Empower Women for Se

Author: Lucy Nyambi.

The President of the Customs Officers’ Wives Association (COWA), Mrs Kikelomo Adeniyi, commissioned the COWA office for the PTML chapter in Lagos on Wednesday, 28 August 2024.

The event, which took place at PTML Mile 2 Terminal, was attended by Chairpersons of COWA and Customs Area Controllers from Zone A.

Speaking at the event, Mrs Adeniyi stated that the occasion symbolises the association’s commitment to capacity building and growth. “Today, we are not only commissioning our office but also empowering our trainees with essential work equipment. This gesture reflects our dedication to capacity building and growth.”

She expressed gratitude to Comptroller Tenny Daniyan, the Customs Area Controller of PTML Command, for his unwavering support and partnership with COWA.

“Your leadership and commitment to our welfare have been invaluable, and we deeply appreciate the opportunity and resources you have made available to us,” she said.

Mrs Adeniyi reaffirmed the association’s commitment to empowering women to be self-sustainable.

“In COWA, it is about empowerment, making our women self-sustainable. In everything we do, they are in our hearts, whether they are widows or wives of serving officers or even the larger society.”

In her address, the Chairperson of the PTML COWA Chapter, Mrs. Maureen Daniyan, acknowledged the role of Customs Officers’ Wives as pillars of support. “At the PTML chapter of COWA, we have stepped up our activities to achieve significant improvements. The commissioning of the skills acquisition centre today is one of the manifestations of our efforts. We hope to do more as God gives us strength.”

Trainees in catering, general body care products, and other vocations were presented with work equipment. Widows were also considered, receiving food items and cash gifts.

Guests were entertained with a drama presentation by COWA members, showcasing what the association stands for.

Author: Titus Omajali.

The Customs Area Controller (CAC) of Tin Can Island Port Command, Comptroller Dera Nnadi, welcomed the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Authorised Economic Operator Technical Working Group (AEO-TWG), World Customs Organization (WCO) Experts, and representatives from the World Bank Group to his office in Lagos on 28 August 2024.

During the meeting, Comptroller Nnadi reaffirmed his commitment to facilitating the swift clearance of all AEO consignments within the command. He emphasised that faster cargo clearance, in accordance with the WCO’s guidelines on AEO, would not only enhance revenue generation but also help decongest the ports and bolster cargo security.

He acknowledged the efforts of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, to streamline cargo clearance and facilitate trade in line with international best practices. “As you all know, I was appointed the chairman of the Time Release Study (TRS) by CGC, and I believe the report will be out in September,” he stated.

The CAC further stressed the importance of continued WCO and World Bank support in implementing the AEO programme in Nigeria, particularly during this crucial pilot phase.

Responding to his remarks, Pelisa Matyumza, a WCO expert, praised the NCS for its efforts in piloting the AEO programme and assured the WCO’s continued support in its implementation. ACG Bede Anyanwu (rtd.), a consultant for the World Bank, also pledged the World Bank’s backing for the successful realisation of the AEO programme in Nigeria.

The visit to Tin Can Island Port Command, according to Nnenna Awa, the Team Lead of NCS’s AEO-TWG is part of the ongoing Onsite Validation Mission for the pilot phase of the AEO programme and also to acquire practical knowledge of the validation, which is involving the NCS AEO-TWG, World Bank Group, and WCO experts. She said, “This mission is critical to ensuring that the AEO programme is effectively piloted, launched and operationalised, paving the way for enhanced trade facilitation in Nigeria”.

The Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, has on Saturday, 17th August 2024, hosted the Honourable Minister of Sports Development, John Owan Enoh, Board Members of the Nigeria Wrestling Federation and Athletes at his residence to feast together after returning from the just concluded 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

According to the Comptroller-General of Customs, the gesture was to commend them for their patriotism and strong representation of the country, as they showcased courage to reach the semi-finals and quarterfinals during the tournaments.

The event, which took place at the Service’s Management Quarters in Abuja, was attended by the athletes and their coaches. It served as an avenue to call on the athletes to rethink and re-strategise for the following games season through trainings going forward.

Addressing the guests, CGC Adeniyi expressed confidence that the wrestlers will return to medal-winning form with the proper support and environment, adding that “the reason behind organising this feast is simple. As our athletes return, we ought to celebrate their efforts, despite the lack of medals, because it will inspire younger athletes.”

Commending them further, CGC Adeniyi said the friendly reception was also aimed at demonstrating that he values the dedication and hard work invested by the federation in every endeavour, regardless of the outcome.

He said, “We stay together when we are happy and when we are not. We have a very useful lesson to learn from the experience we had at the recently concluded Olympics in Paris. This reception, therefore, offers us the opportunity to come together to appreciate our athletes and officials for the effort it has taken them to go this far.”

“The Olympics take place in one month every four years, but we know that sometimes it takes about ten years for an athlete to prepare adequately for an Olympic. Our athletes and officials qualified for the Olympics, which is the highest level of performance in the world, given their best, and it was unfortunate that they could not win medals.” CGC Adeniyi added.

He further stated that the game’s outcome does not portray the end of the world, adding, “because we know that they have done it before and we believe that with the right support and environment, they will do it again.”

“Let me repeat ahat it is not only when we win that we should have this kind of reception. We must show our athletes and officials that we are indeed a federation and country that appreciates what they’ve done. We want to continue to encourage these athletes and serve as a reference for the younger ones coming behind them, saying that the federation and indeed the country will always appreciate the effort they put into any endeavour irrespective of the outcome,” CGC Adeniyi said.

On his part, the Minister of Sports Development, Senator John Owan Enoh, who was present at the reception, commended the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi and the president of Nigeria Wrestling Federation (NWF), Daniel Igali, for hosting the wrestling team.

Minister Enoh, who applauded the leadership of the Nigeria Wrestling Federation for their commitment and harmonious teamwork, also expressed optimism that the team would change the narrative in the near future.

He also urged the athletes not to consider the current results a defeat but a challenge to buckle up and make a difference in the forthcoming games season.

Earlier, the National President of the Nigeria Wrestling Federation, Daniel Igali, acknowledged the CGC’s enduring involvement in the board activities and assured the minister of the Team’s commitment to soar higher in the forthcoming games season.

He said, “Ever since you became a Federation Board Member, you have completely changed and shaped how we undertake our activities. We can not thank you enough for your kind gestures.”