By Bon Peters
PORT HARCOURT/Nigeria: Zonal Coordinator of the Nigeria Customs Service (Zone C), ACG SK Dangladima, has charged officers and men of the Akwa Ibom/Calabar Command to step up efforts in trade facilitation, revenue generation, and the suppression of smuggling, insisting that the Service under Comptroller-General Bashir Adewale Adeniyi will not tolerate laxity or indiscipline.
Dangladima gave the directive on Thursday in Calabar during a two-day working visit to Customs formations in Cross River and Akwa Ibom States. He emphasized that the CGC has mandated all ACGs to abandon office routines and engage field officers directly, interact with stakeholders, and address operational challenges in real-time.
“I’m here to feel your pulse, hear your concerns, and solve problems. Our core duties remain trade facilitation, plugging revenue leakages, and suppressing smuggling activities,” he stated.
He also warned against promotion malpractice, stressing that transparency is non-negotiable under Adeniyi’s leadership. “Nobody marks the script of someone they know. Promotion is based on merit and divine timing,” he said.
Earlier, Comptroller of the Command, CG Ogbonna, hailed the visit as a morale booster and used the opportunity to present the Command’s performance scorecard. He disclosed that the Command generated ₦24.4 billion in the first half of 2025, representing 53% of its annual target.
Ogbonna highlighted record exports from the Calabar Free Trade Zone and Tinapa, including 43,028 packages of various products and over 53 million barrels of crude lifted from Qua-Iboe Terminal. He said over 1.8 million cartons of goods were shipped from Tinapa alone.
On anti-smuggling operations, Ogbonna detailed major seizures including endangered species parts, pangolin scales weighing 119.4kg, illicit pharmaceuticals, second-hand clothing, and petroleum products. He credited the successes to enhanced border patrols and actionable intelligence.
In a push for modernization, Ogbonna announced the deployment of the B’Odogwu Unified Customs Management System, with the first consignment under the platform cleared on June 17, 2025. He said the system has improved efficiency and officers and stakeholders have been fully trained.
The Area Controller also revealed ongoing disciplinary measures against errant officers and emphasized the command’s zero tolerance for corruption and substance abuse. He lauded the collaboration with sister security agencies and noted that the command had provided a borehole to Ajassor Community as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility.
Despite the gains, Ogbonna raised concerns over the underutilization of Calabar Port, shallow channel depths, poor road infrastructure, erratic power supply, and shortage of junior officers. He appealed for urgent deployment of manpower and power infrastructure to aid operations.
The command’s achievements and challenges were echoed by stakeholders. Dr. Uche Ohaegbuchi, Chairman of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) Calabar Chapter, praised the ACG’s visit and rated Comptroller Ogbonna’s leadership at 80%, citing improvements in stakeholder engagement, revenue generation, and enforcement.
He also urged authorities to expedite dredging of the Calabar River and reconstruction of the ITU/Calabar road to enhance clearing and forwarding activities.
The ACG’s tour also covered key facilities including Liberty Oil and Gas Free Trade Zone, Calabar Free Trade Zone Authority, and Tinapa Business Resort. Representatives from NPA, NEPZA, MWUN, and bonded terminal operators were present during the visit.
Dangladima’s visit, stakeholders agreed, signals a renewed drive by Customs leadership to tighten operations, build stakeholder confidence, and project the Service as a disciplined, efficient, and development-driven institution.
