The Acting Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to engaging with relevant stakeholders to ensure the success of its administration.
This statement was made on Wednesday, September 20, 2023, during a meeting at the Customs Headquarters in Abuja with members of the Customs Consultative Committee, led by Chairman Aare Hakeem Olanrewaju. The meeting also included the newly elected executives of the Association of Nigeria License Customs Agents (ANLCA).
The Acting Comptroller General urged the newly elected leaders of ANLCA to recognize the importance of maintaining peace among themselves, as it would encourage the Nigeria Customs Service to view them as vital partners. He emphasized the need for unity and collaboration to combat threats to revenue collection and national security.
He urged the executive members and board members to take swift action, acknowledging that there is much work to be done to bring professionalism and order to the industry. He highlighted the shared challenge faced by the Nigeria Customs Service and ANLCA in consolidating recent victories, which would pave the way for automation of procedures and benefits for authorized economic operators.
The Acting Comptroller-General expressed the Nigeria Customs Service’s willingness to collaborate with ANLCA to facilitate successful trade operations. He mentioned plans to hold a meeting with customs agents to ensure that operational processes are improved and streamlined.
Chairman Aare Hakeem Olanrewaju, who led the Customs Consultative Committee delegation, introduced the newly elected National Executive Council of ANLCA to the Acting CGC. He congratulated the Acting CGC on his appointment by President Bola Ahmad Tinubu and highlighted the positive changes within ANLCA, which had been marked by conflicts in the past but had now embraced collaborative peace.
Mr. Olanrewaju also commended the role played by Acting CGC Bashir Adewale Adeniyi in establishing a Customs Consultative Committee to foster peace within ANLCA.
The newly elected president of ANLCA, Emenike Kingsley Nwokeoji, expressed appreciation for the acting CGC’s leadership in resolving the association’s internal conflicts. He noted that his team was actively working to advance the association’s goals and described the acting CGC as a highly competent leader essential for the country’s economic and developmental growth.
Nwokeoji praised the acting CGC’s leadership style, which prioritizes inclusivity and swift problem-solving. He expressed confidence in the acting CGC’s leadership and hoped for a mutually beneficial partnership to achieve their objectives.
