It was Thomas Edison, the American inventor and businessman who said “Time is really the only capital that any human being has, and the only thing he can’t afford to lose”.
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) is witnessing a time it can’t afford to lose in deploying its best hands in terms of manpower, intelligence and intellectual capacity to drive its new zeal for a better future in the Service.
It is no longer news that much older and middle age senior officers of the Service are gradually retiring from the Service. Like they say in Military parlance , “soldier come, solder go, barracks remain”.
The old and capable officers are going, but NCS remains. What foundation then should be laid for the upcoming younger officers? Who are the ones leading the way and leaving lasting legacies for the upcoming officers , especially at the field ( Customs Commands and Units).
Suffice to say that the coming onboard of CGC Adewale Adeniyi MFR in a time the Customs is being reform with a New Customs Act is the best thing to have happened to the NCS. At a time the world over is larveraging on Information and Communication Technology ( ICT) powered with internet and digital transformations, with the crop of well trained officers with professionally endowed training, the Nigeria Customs can now be compared with other advaced Customs administrations in the world.
Kudos should be given to the leadership of CGC Adewale Adeniyi, first for decentralizing the nepotism barriers in deployment of tested and trusted officers to man key Commands, Units and Formations of the Service.
Aside from putting square pegs in square holes, Adeniyi who is also a well grounded Officer in administration and public relations, sure know his onions and how to used it.
Applying his professional and well groomed knowledge in the Service, his barely one year in office is churning out excellent results in revenue collection, anti-smuggling, trade facilitation, implementation of government fiscal policies, inter agency synergies and driving the Service to a great future.
The Customs boss has continued to placed emphasis on strategic management principles that not only produce expected results, but that which also placed deserving officers at their needed duty posts .
Expectedly, with the three Area Controllers of Comptrollers Dera Nnadi mni at Tin Can Island Port, Timi Bomodi of Seme/ Krake border and Babatunde Olomu at the Apapa flagship Command , the ground is set for the Service to see excellent service delivery at its best for all port stakeholders and the Nigerian public.
For the purpose of emphasis, the trios are tested, committed and professional Customs Officers, who are all former Public Relations Officers at the Commands level in the Service. These were the men that work tirelessly at the Commands level with CGC Adewale Adeniyi who was then the Service Spokeman to keep the image of the Service intact.
Before moving to the field, Nnadi was the former Zonal PRO, of Zone A and Apapa Customs Command respectively. Bomodi held sway as the Command PRO at KLT, while Olomu was PRO of Seme border. In those days the trio like John the Baptist were for runners to their then boss and bigger boss now , CGC Adewale Adeniyi.
For Comptroller Dera Nnadi, Comptroller Timi Bomodi and Comptroller Babatunde Olomu, you have no choice than to make your “Master” , the CG , a proud boss who have found you all worthy to lead the pack as the good guys in his books.
Particularly, for Comptroller Babatunde Olomu who will be resuming at the premier port of Apapa, remember Sir, you are the Headmaster in the game of revenue collection and trade facilitation. Show your the stuff you are made up and let your boss take the credit, while u carry the honour.
Comptrollers Dera Nnadi and Timi Bomodi are already raising the flag high , join them and raise it higher, while you all are expected to leave a lasting legacies as the trio whom their “Master” love and he will be proud to call you “Faithful and Worthy Servants”.
Citizen Innocent Orok is a Journalist based in Lagos.
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