By Olubunmi ISIOPHKE, Lagos
In line with the directive and redeployment of the renewed hope mantra and geometric revenue generation drive of the Comptroller General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi MFR, the newly appointed Area Controller, Customs Seme Area Command, Nigeria Customs Service, Comptroller Timi Bomodi has assured that he will be in the business of solving problems at the border command, which is strategic to the promotion of intra-African trade, especially within the Economic Community of West African States ECOWAS sub-region.
This information was disclosed by the new CAC in a chat with newsmen shortly after taking over the reins of power at the command.
Adding, “Am very focused on addressing challenges impeding free flow of legitimate trade through the Seme- Krake Joint Border to the rest of the countries within the West African sub-region.”
His words: ” The fulcrum of my management objective will focus on the core mandate of the service in facilitating legitimate trade, revenue generation and suppressing smuggling activities, and above all, enforcing Federal Government’s fiscal policies.”,
Compt. Bomodi asserted, “To achieve these, I plan to run an open-door and inclusive administration, where the views of stakeholders will matter and everyone must have to play by the rules of the game while efforts would be made to meet the needs and aspirations of the border communities.”
The CAC reaffirmed, “It is not going to be business as usual because everybody must have to play by the rules of the game. I intend to run an open and inclusive administration where the views of everyone would be taken into consideration. We will also try to meet the needs and aspirations of the border communities.”
He reiterated, “Doing all these, we will not lose sight of our core responsibilities in facilitating legitimate trade, supressing smuggling, collecting government’s revenue and enforcing the country’s fiscal policies. So we will never compromise these responsibilities and this is why everyone must be ready to play by the rules, but while here, we will be in the business of solving problems.”
In his remarks, the outgoing CAC, Comptroller Dera Nnadi mini recalled the recent meeting with the Customs Administration of the Republic of Benin, where the framework is being worked out for an agreement between both countries.
In addition, Compt. Bomodi stressed, “That will tell you that it is no longer business as usual because on our part here, everyone must do what is expected of him and same for those on the other side of the divide so that everyone will have seamless transactions. Going forward, we will always fashion out solutions but that will not come only from us on this side but also from every stakeholder.”
Reacting on the return of multiple checkpoints few weeks after they were dispersed, especially those of Police on the Lagos-Seme Border Expressway, the new CAC hinted that efforts were being made at top government levels to address the problem, which he admitted was not good for trade.
His words: “This corridor is a major artery that connects trade within the sub-region and this underscores its strategic importance. Ours is to facilitate legitimate trade, but I can assure you that efforts are being made to address the problem at very top government levels.”
Adding, “When you travel from Republic of Benin toTogo, even up to Ghana, you do not see such checkpoints, this is not good for trade but at the highest level of government, everything is being done to ensure that the security agencies that should legitimately be there are there, this should be done whether in the short or long term.”
However, the new CAC commended Comptroller Nnadi for the successes recorded at the command, especially in terms of surpassing the command’s revenue target of N1.96billion by collecting N2.8billion within the first week of September and assured that he would further build on those successes. He also expressed gratitude to the acting Comptroller General of the service, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR for entrusting the responsibility of manning such strategic border command and confidence reposed on him.
