Abueh renews hope on improved revenue generation by Customs

It was mixed feelings for Customs officials in the South West of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), as the Assistant Comptroller-Generals exchanged baton to steer the leadership of the Zone ‘A’ Command.

Amid pomp and pageantry, the former Customs Zonal Coordinator, Zone “A`, Assistant Comptroller-General Eporwei Edike, recently handed over to Assistant Comptroller-General Monday Abueh.

Edike, at the handling over ceremony in Lagos, said the zone generated N1.60 trillion from all Customs formations in South West Nigeria during his tenure between 2015 and 2016.

He attributed the achievements to all customs comptrollers and officers, who made it possible to achieve tremendous revenue for the Federal Government.

Abueh said he would operate an open door policy and work relentlessly to generate more revenue for the Federal Government, through enforcement and intelligence gathering.

Abueh said, “Zone ‘A’ is very important to the service therefore If Zone A fails, it is like the entire Customs Service has failed and this is why the management usually redeploys sound minded officers to the zone.”

“Posting of officers is a normal exercise that goes on at all times. I am expected to improve on the successes that had been recorded in Zone ‘À’ and that I promise to do. Importantly, we cannot succeed on our own because Customs officers work with intelligence, which are being provided by the Nigerian public and members of the press.

“I will plea for the media support to enable us generate more revenue and tackle security issues in the county.

“The new government regulation has banned the importation of vehicles and we are assuring that no single vehicle will come into the country,” Abueh said.

The Customs Area Controller (CAC), Apapa Command, Comptroller Mohammed Jubril, said officers were already missing a very good leader, who had supported them to achieve success.

Jubril said Edike’s operation had improved discipline and changed officers’ attitude to work, adding that this had supported the huge revenue generated by the service.

The Comptroller said Customs was meant to promote compliance with international trade, to combat smuggling and improve revenue generation.
Jubril expressed the readiness of officers and men in the zone to support the new zonal coordinator to achieve success.