By Ibe Wada

Officers and men of the Nigeria Customs Service, Federal Operation Unit, Zone A, have completed a one-month intensive weapon handling training along with a study tour to Gbaji Check Point, Badagry.

The Commandant of the Nigeria Customs Training College, Ikeja, DC Haniel Hadison, who spearheaded the sixty-six participants and other officers to Gbaji on Tuesday, April 16, 2024, noted that the initiative is aimed at bridging the gap between theoretical knowledge and real-world application.

He said, “Our outing is in line with the concerted efforts of the Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, in capacity building, and we are thankful for the approval of the one-month weapon training of some selected officers of the Federal Operations Unit, Zone A, Ikeja”.

“We are here this morning at Gbaji, the approved checkpoints manned by the Federal Operations Unit and other sister agencies. We have brought our students to come and see how checkpoint activities are being carried out to relate what they have learned to what is happening in real-time at the checkpoint. ” He added.

DC Hadison explained that the study tour aligns with the college’s curriculum regarding customs activities.

“For the past three weeks or thereabouts, these selected officers of FOU ‘A’ have undergone weapon handling and checkpoints exercises, also exposed to different Customs activities as it relates to enforcement, such as weapon handling and discipline, escorts activities, bodily duties and other enforcement activities, patrols activities, arrest techniques as it concerns global best practices.” He stated.

Hadison emphasised that the training is a continuous one, as the Service will continue to expose officers to best practices of weapons handling and discipline.

He appreciated the CGC for the opportunity given, even on the last day of the training.

After teaching and showing the officers firsthand techniques on checkpoint assessment, Assistant Comptroller Adewale Egunjobi, the Officer in Charge of Operations, Gbaji, expressed satisfaction with the student’s performance, affirming their readiness to assume greater responsibilities within the service.

“It’s a mission accomplished. Today marks one of my best days in the service, witnessing these students showcase their skills. I have complete confidence in their abilities to uphold customs’ standards. “.

Chief Superintendent of Customs Ibrahim Salati, the National Coordinator of Rural-Urban Border Patrol Operations, commended the officers’ proficiency in weapon handling and enforcement techniques.

Salati emphasised the importance of practical training in preparing officers for their duties.

“When you look at them, the way they handle rifles shows that the purpose of the training has been achieved,” Salati stated.

“We owe gratitude to the CGC and the Commandant for emphasising the practical side of training, ensuring our officers are well-prepared to tackle enforcement tasks.”. He concluded.

…Knocks DSS in Opening Match

Cynthia Idowu

The Men’s Basketball team of the Nigeria Customs Service is presently competing with other security agencies in a basketball championship competition in Abuja.

The tournament, scheduled to commence on the 15th, will run through to the 20th of April 2024 at the Indoor Hall of the MKO Abiola International Stadium, Abuja.

Abdulrahman Mohammed, a former D’Tigers guard, is joined by teammates like Daniel Moko and Samson Abdulrahman Mohammed.

Abdulrahman, who recently coached the Customs women’s team to top place at the FIBA Africa, Zone 3 championship last December, is confident that the team will not disappoint the leadership of the Nigeria Customs Service, led by Comptroller-General Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR.

“This is our first time participating in the championship, as some key players were unavailable during the first edition. However, we are fully prepared for the challenge. I have confidence in our players, many of whom have represented Nigeria locally and internationally,” Mohammed said.

The championship will feature seven teams, including the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Navy, Nigerian Air Force, Nigerian Customs Service, Nigeria Police, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, and the Nigerian Correctional Service.

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Customs men’s basketball team on Tuesday night showed their gallantry by defeating the Directorate of State Service (DSS) by 101-68 points on the opening day.

The Comptroller General Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, who graced the occasion, cheered his men to victory with 16 16-point advantage at halftime 51-35.

Customs, however, proved too strong for their opponent as they easily won the fourth and final quarter by 27-10 points to close out the game with 101-68 points.

Customs, under the stewardship of coach Mohammed Abba, will take on its strongest Group B opponent, The Nigeria Police, at 3:00 pm on Wednesday (today) in the race for a semi-final spot.

In other games played on Tuesday, Nigeria Police defeated the Federal Road Safety Corps by 76-41 points, while Group A leader Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corp defeated the Federal Fire Service by 92-50 points.

Other games on the bill on Day 2 of the championship are Road Safety taking on DSS at 1:00 pm while the Nigerian Air Force will feel the pulse of the NSCDC at 5:00 pm.

Customs’ manager, Abba, says his side will take one game at a time as all teams have equal chances of getting to the knockout stages.

By Lucy Nyambi

The Nigeria Customs Service, Lilypond Export Command, has processed 5,891 (20ft and 40ft) containers of export commodities valued at $236,087,888.53 in the 1st quarter of 2024.

Announcing the Command’s outstanding performance to Newsmen on Tuesday, 16 April 2024, Comptroller Ajibola Odusanya revealed that the commodities comprise Agricultural produce, manufactured goods, solid and extractive minerals, among others.

Comparing activities with the corresponding period in 2023, Comptroller Odusanya noted that analysis revealed a substantial growth trajectory in Q1 2024.

According to him, “total containers processed in 2024 Q1 surged by 44% to reach 5,891(20ft and 40ft) containers as against 3,784 (20ft and 40ft) containers processed in 2023 Q1, signifying heightened trade activity at the Command.

“Export commodities’ value also surged by 42% to USD$236,087,888.00 as against $154,459,566.39 recorded in 2023 QI, underlining the sustained momentum in export performance.”

The Area Controller stated that the Nigeria Export Supervision Scheme (NESS) also witnessed an impressive 114% increase, “reaching N1,389,331,520.15 from N378,268,430.57 received in 2023 Q1, indicative of enhanced revenue generation and compliance.

“Surcharge payment for plants & machinery, and imported goods doubled from NGN 8,785,188.00 in 2023 Q1 to NGN 18,218,964.00 in 2024 Q1, representing a 70% difference, aligning with fiscal policy directives.”

Comptroller Odusanya emphasised the importance of increased export trade activities in firming up the Naira value.

He attributed the surge in export trade activities to President Bola Tinubu’s vision to encourage export, stating that, “the Nigeria Export Promotion Council (NEPC) has been on top of that sensitisation, and the little we can do at our end in customs, is to support them.”

He reiterated the Command’s commitment to fostering consolidation, collaboration and innovation to ensure seamless trade facilitation.

“Export business is our business here. We facilitate the trade of export and give maximum corporation to those people that are ready to do legitimate export trade,” he stressed.