By Tony Nzekwe
The Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, is a parastatal in the Federal Ministry of Finance saddled with the responsibilities to generate revenue to the federal government, suppress smuggling activities and enhance trade facilitation in line with international standards and best practices.
The Service has under gone several organizational, structural and operational reforms aimed to adhere to strict compliance with the statutory mandates and protect national security.
The Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, under the stewardship of Col. Hameed Ali (rtd) has witnessed a new spirited efforts and vigour from most officers and men of the service embedded in discipline, dedication and call to service.
The Onne Customs Command of the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, under the control of Compt Auwal Mohammed, has witnessed a huge monumental impacts in revenue generation, suppression of smuggling activities and seamless trade facilitation at the Port.
Most stakeholders at the Port have continued to pour encomiums on Compt Auwal Mohammed for his discipline, steadfastness and adherence to fiscal policies of the federal government of Nigeria.
A prominent Licensed Customs Agents who confided With GLOBAL RAYS Media, has said, ” Since the assumption of Compt. Auwal Mohammed as the CAC in Onne customs command issues of delay and lukewarmness in service delivery by some officers and men are over. He has injected a new spirited efforts in officers and men with a view to generate more revenue, suppress smuggling and enhance trade facilitation.”
He continued, ” The Customs Area Controller, CAC, on assumption of office last year embarked on a meet the critical stakeholders meetings with a view to create a robust synergies and condusive working environment in cargo documentation and clearance at the Port.”
“Compt Auwal Mohammed has remained an advocate of Due-process, hard work and transperancy in the discharge of duties in line with the service three point agenda.”
He asserted that, ” Compt Auwal Mohammed also break a record in the history of Onne customs command, his team generated a whopping amount of #13billion naira revenue in a month, a feat not attained by any of his predecessors.”
Compt Auwal Mohammed stewardship has witnessed a tripod strategies for revenue; revenue generation, revenue protection and revenue recovery aimed to close all possible loopholes for revenue leakages. With the redoubled efforts and commitment of officers and men of the command the command has continued to generate revenue in billions to the federal coffers.
However, some group under the eagies of Concerned Maritime Stakeholders Practitioner’s have condemned his stewardship for high handedness and frequency alerts from both Valuation and Customs Intelligence Unit (CIU) while calling for review and streamline of service operations to boost seamless and fast track cargo documentation and clearance at the Port.
