By Bon Peters
PORT HARCOURT/Nigeria: In a commendable display of commitment and achievement, the Nigeria Customs Service, Federal Operations Unit FOU, Zone “C” Owerri, has decorated 46 newly promoted officers.
Simultaneously, the unit announced remarkable seizures with a total Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N5,351,826,390.00 in the 2023 fiscal year. These details were disclosed in an official press release received by our correspondent from the Zone’s Public Relations Officer, Chief Superintendent of Customs (CSC) Jerry Attah, on Wednesday.
The breakdown of the promotions reveals a strategic elevation of officers within the ranks. Notably, three officers ascended from Chief Superintendent of Customs (CSC) to the rank of Assistant Comptroller (AC). Additionally, five officers progressed from Superintendent of Customs (SC) to Chief Superintendent of Customs (CSC), and three officers advanced from the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Customs (DSC) to SC.
Further, the promotion list includes two officers moving from Assistant Superintendent of Customs I (ASC I) to DSC, six from ASCII to ASC I, seventeen from IC to ASCII, eight from Assistant Inspector of Customs (AIC) to IC, and one individual from Customs Area I (CA I) to AIC. Among the promoted officers is the Zone’s Public Relations Officer, Jerry Attah, who now holds the rank of Chief Superintendent of Customs (CSC).
During the decoration ceremony on Wednesday, Zone “C” Comptroller, Kayode Kolade, attributed the substantial seizures to the hard work, resilience, dedication to duty, and commitment of his officers. Items seized included pangolin scales, foreign parboiled rice, cannabis sativa (AKA Indian hemp), fake pharmaceutical products, tramadol, used vehicles, used tires, used clothing, and explosive raw materials.
Comptroller Kolade emphasized that the interventions at seaports to curb fraudulent activities had resulted in the recovery of lost revenues totaling N152,492,214.00. He urged the promoted officers to maintain high ethical standards and continue justifying the confidence vested in them by the Service.
Expressing gratitude to the Comptroller-General, Wale Adeniyi MFR, for continuous support, Kolade acknowledged the positive impact on officer activities. He stated, “Let me use this opportunity to appreciate the Comptroller-General of Customs, Wale Adeniyi MFR and his management team through the Board of the NCS for this privilege and promise our determination and zeal to perform even more as we wear our new ranks.”
Highlighting the inevitable change that accompanies promotions, Kolade stressed the need for enhanced performance to meet the N5.7 trillion target set by the Service in the coming year. He concluded, “New rank comes with new and more responsibility, and we must deliver on our mandate.”
