By Bon Peters
PORT HARCOURT/Nigeria: The Zonal Coordinator of Nigeria Customs Service, Zone C Headquarters, Port Harcourt, Assistant Comptroller General (ACG) SK Dangladima, has urged officers and men of the Port Harcourt Area II Command, Onne, to intensify efforts in facilitating legitimate trade and ensuring efficient service delivery in line with the Service’s core mandates.
Speaking during his working and familiarisation visit to the Onne Command on Tuesday, Dangladima reminded officers that the central functions of the Nigeria Customs Service remain revenue collection, suppression of smuggling, and trade facilitation. He emphasized that these duties must be discharged with professionalism and integrity.
“Let’s facilitate legitimate trade,” Dangladima stated. “Customs brokers must avoid wrong declarations, and our officers must ensure trade is not hindered by unnecessary bureaucracy.”
The ACG stressed the importance of training and personal development, revealing that going forward, promotion would be based on merit and educational improvement. He urged officers to enroll in Junior or Senior Courses at Gwagwalada, which he said would be a prerequisite for future advancement within the Service.
He also cautioned against delays and diversions in the handling of containers on transire. “Ensure that containers are escorted and reach their destinations promptly. Don’t delay containers. Be your brother’s keeper,” he warned.
Highlighting the need for synergy with other agencies at the port, Dangladima called for timely coordination in cargo examination and release processes. “All sister agencies must be readily available to avoid delays in the system,” he added.
The ACG praised the Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Mohammed Babandede, for his command’s performance in revenue generation and urged stakeholders to support efforts to meet the 2025 revenue target for Onne.
Dangladima also lauded the leadership of the Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, describing him as a seasoned and visionary leader whose influence has continued to elevate performance across all zones, particularly Zone C.
“Our CGC is a thoroughbred officer who knows the job inside out. We are fortunate to have him at the helm. Let us emulate his discipline, dedication, and transparency,” he said.
Earlier, Comptroller Babandede welcomed the ACG and expressed appreciation for the visit, which he described as timely and encouraging. He highlighted Onne’s strides in revenue collection and trade facilitation and hinted that several major seizures made recently would be announced soon.
He, however, noted some operational challenges, including migration issues with the new B’Odogwu clearance platform caused by network instability. He also mentioned the need for more operational vehicles and better staff accommodation.
In response, ACG Dangladima promised to escalate the issues to appropriate quarters, pledging to resolve those that could be addressed at the zonal level and refer the rest to the CGC and his management team.
Goodwill messages were delivered by key stakeholders at the port, including representatives of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA). Deputy Commander of Narcotics, DC James Bada, commended the Onne Command for maintaining a strong collaborative relationship with the NDLEA and pledged continued support for mutual goals.
The visit also took the ACG to the Oil and Gas Free Trade Zone Command of the Nigeria Customs Service, where he continued his zonal inspection.
Present at the engagement were top Customs officials including Comptroller Bodunde FA (Zonal Administration), Comptroller CC Dim (Eastern Marine Command), Comptroller BA Balogun (FOU Zone C, Owerri), and Comptroller MO Omisore (Post Clearance Audit), alongside representatives of bonded terminal operators and other stakeholders in the port community.
