Author: Lucy Nyambi.

Comptroller Babajide Jaiyeoba has handed over the reigns of Apapa Area Command to Comptroller Babatunde Olomu following his retirement after 35 years of meritorious service.

In a handover ceremony held at the Command Headquarters on Monday, 6 May 2024, the Outgoing Customs Area Controller, Babajide Jaiyeoba, appreciated the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, for considering him worthy to steer the affairs of Apapa Area Command.

He acknowledged the support of officers and men, attributing the command’s achievements to teamwork.

He said, “When I assumed office in September 2023, the assurances of support I received from officers and men on the ground strengthened me. I can boldly say all we achieved during my period are products of teamwork”.

“Between January and April 2024, the Apapa Command of NCS collected N672,172,624,033.03 as revenue for the federal government. We have set the ball rolling for the actualisation of our target, and the officers I am leaving behind are focused on this. My optimism is not misplaced because we have all proven to be tested and trusted”. He stated.

He explained that the command in April 2024 alone generated N182 billion, a record-breaking monthly collection in the history of the service.

Comptroller Jaiyeoba also acknowledged the cooperation of sister agencies and stakeholders. “We jointly worked to achieve our individual, organisational goals and collective interest of making Apapa port import and export friendly without undermining national security”.

The outgoing CAC solicited maximum cooperation from the incoming Customs Area Controller, describing him as a team player and result-oriented officer.

On his part, Comptroller Olomu promised to build on the successes of his predecessor.

He pledged to promote a robust customs community while also implementing all provisions of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023, the Common External Tariff, import and export prohibition guidelines and other instruction books as directed by the Federal Government.

He said, “While promoting a robust customs community relation system with regular interface with all government and private sector stakeholders, I shall upscale our enforcement with intelligence to ensure that only legitimate trade is allowed in Apapa Port and all the terminals within the command. Our tolerance level for smuggling of prohibited items, concealment and declaration for duty evasion shall be zero and shall remain so”. He added.

Stakeholders appreciated the outgoing CAC for standing by agents and facilitating cargo processes while pledging their support for Comptroller Olomu.

Author: Vivian Daniel.

The Nigeria Customs Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC), on Friday, 3 May 2024, held a befitting retirement reception to commemorate the outstanding careers of two seasoned administrators of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), namely the Commander TRADOC, Acting Deputy Comptroller-General Olugboyega Peters and Assistant Comptroller General in charge of Doctrine, Development and Administration (DD&A), ACG Nanu Ogar-Modey.

This was contained in a statement signed by the College Public Relations Officer, Akinwale Fatoki, stating that the two celebrated Officers both bowed out of service on Thursday, 2nd May 2024.

The statement further noted that after the Commander had received and inspected the Quarter Guard, the grand ceremony began, which took place at the DCG’s conference room.

While pouring encomiums on the retiring officers, ACG Egwuh described the times he had spent working with both Officers in different capacities as very rewarding.

“The Service will miss the two of you, who I have worked and become friends with. I admire the dedication of ACG Ogar-Modey and how she combines it with caring for her family.

“Ag. DCG Peters is a repository of Customs knowledge and an embodiment of humility. I pray that God will reward you both for your selfless service to the nation,” he said.

ACG Yusuf, on his part, recounted the excellent working relationship he had with retiring Ag. DCG Peters wishes the two retiring Officers nothing short of the best in their new phase of life.

“When we worked together at Apapa Seaport, I was the striker, and he was the defender. While I worked in the Customs Processing Center (CPC), he worked at the exit gate. So we always put heads together to combine expertise and agree on superior opinion about the classification of consignments,” he stated.

Speaking, ACG Kamaruddeen Olumo (Rtd.) remarked and thanked God for the life and successful careers of Ag. DCG Peters and admonished the Service to come up with notable modalities to ensure the knowledge acquired by the retiring Commander and other resourceful retired Officers is continually transmitted to the new breed of Officers who are still actively serving. Regarding ACG Ogar-Modey, he eulogised her rare leadership qualities while welcoming her into the “Senior Citizens Club”.

“Nanu has been more than a colleague. We have been very close since joining the service and have formed a friendship that transcends into our families. She is very passionate about her family and the Service. I have no doubt she will enjoy her retirement,” he affirmed.

The retiring Assistant Comptroller-General, Ogar-Modey, in her response, gave gratitude to God for his grace in her life as well as the support of the Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC) Bashir Adeniyi and his management team. She expressed her joy at how far she had come in the Service while surmounting all challenges that were thrown her way.

“It was never an easy ride. There were challenges here and there, but to the glory of God, I was able to surmount them all. I am very happy to be retiring honourably after thirty-five years in service. My joy knows no bounds. I thank God for his unending grace because, without him, my story would probably have been different. I also appreciate the CGC, who has never failed to show his trust in me,” she extolled.

The Commander, Ag. DCG Peters, in his remarks, expressed his appreciation to God for giving him the ability to serve and serve well dutifully. He equally thanked the CGC for the remarkable strides he has gallantly made to ensure the Nigeria Customs Service fulfils its mandate while ensuring the nation is never on the losing end to economic saboteurs. He counselled serving Officers to be unrelenting and steadfast in their duties while encouraging them always to be inquisitive and ask questions that will make them vastly knowledgeable in Customs operations and procedures.

By Lucy Nyambi

Officers and men of the Nigeria Customs Service, Apapa Area Command, as well as stakeholders within the environs, have extolled the Customs Area Controller Apapa Command, Comptroller Babajide Jaiyeoba, as he takes a bow after 35 years of dedicated service.

A send-off party was held at the Command in honour of the CAC on Friday, 3 May 2024.

The event had in attendance the Assistant Comptroller General of Customs/Zonal Coordinator Zone A, Hammi Swomen, Comptroller Ajibola Odusanya, Comptroller Caroline Ayo, Commissioner of Police, Western Port Authority Command, Olanrenwaju, Ishola, Representatives of sister agencies, stakeholders, as well as family and friends.

In his goodwill message, ACG Swomen congratulated Comptroller Jaiyeoba on his retirement while also commending the recent innovations and achievements of the Command.

He said, “We are highly impressed by the innovations and the things that are happening here since the last time we came. I would like to thank all the Officers and Men of the Command because, without your support, it would have been difficult to achieve all these”.

Guests and stakeholders, as well as officers, described the Area Controller as an astute administrator and leader who always showed a willingness to teach his subordinates.

In his remarks, Comptroller Jaiyeoba appreciated God for a successful 35 years of meritorious service.

In his words, “I give all glory, all honour to God, Almighty. And I also thank the Officers and Men of Apapa Command and our stakeholders for your cooperation. We came, we told you our agenda, and you keyed into it, and together, we delivered”. He said.

“I can boldly say since January till now, there has been an increase in revenue collection. We set a target for ourselves, beat it, and reset another target, which, before we know it, we have also beaten it.
Because of the cooperation, because of the commitment and because of the will, all of us have to deliver. And I must say I thank all of us for that”.

The CAC further urged Officers and stakeholders to extend the same cooperation to the incoming Customs Area Controller.

“We have set a standard in Apapa Command, and with or without Comptroller Jaiyeoba, we must maintain that standard. I want to plead with us that whoever is coming to take over, the same cooperation you extended to me, I want us to give the same or more than that cooperation so that together, you can deliver”.

Comptroller Babajide Jaiyeoba hails from Oyo state and has a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science from the University of Lagos.