Customs promotes 2,132 officers, Seme command tasks traditional rulers on smuggling

THE Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has announced the promotion of 2,132 junior officers who participated in the 2014 promotion exercise.

Meanwhile, the Customs Area Controller (CAC) of Seme Command, Ndalati Garba Mohammed has appealed to traditional rulers, chiefs and members of the border community to join hands with the customs in the fight against smuggling and other related vices.

  Ndalati made this call during a recent familiarization visit to traditional rulers and other stakeholders in Seme and it’s environ.

Customs Public Relation Officer (PRO), Wale Adeniyi in a statement explained that the promotion exercise which featured paper-based written tests and  oral interviews was conducted in all Customs formations in October and  November last year.

He explained that out of the total promoted in the junior officers’  cadre, 1889 are in the General Duty Cadre, while the balance of 243  were Support staff.

 Adeniyi said: “Breakdown of the promotion list indicates that 1006 officers were  promoted from the rank of Assistant Inspector to the Inspector rank,  while five Customs Assistants 1 were promoted to the rank of Senior  Customs Assistants. 1007 Customs Assistant II were promoted to Customs  Assistant 1, while 215 Customs Assistant II got promoted to Customs  Assistant II.

“ Announcing the Promotion, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Dikko  Inde Abdullahi congratulated the promoted officers, charging them to  re-double their efforts to justify their promotions”.

Meanwhile, the process that will lead to the promotion of over 2000  senior officers, according to Adeniyi  is about to be completed. “The senior officers who sat  for a competitive computer-based examination and oral interview may  have to wait a little longer. Comptroller-General stated that the list  of successful candidates have been recommended for ratification of the Nigeria Customs Service Board”.

  The seme CAC described the task of policing the border as one that concerns every citizen, adding that security, safety and general peace is everybody’s business.

At the palaces of the Alapa of Apa Kingdom, Oba Oyekan Ilufemiloye Poosi and Aholu of Kweme Kingdom,Oba Sejiro Olalekan James, Ndalati thanked the monarchs for their past support to the customs and urged them to sustain it during his tenure. 

The CAC described himself and members of his entourage as the King’s children who have come to their father’s palaces to solicit continuity in the fatherly care and support the command has been enjoying  over the years.

He said: “As your son, I have come to see my fathers at home to solicit fatherly blessings and support. Considering the way I was received in the palace, I really feel at home and this gives me further assurances of your support to the customs.”

While promising to fully identify with the customs in its duties of suppression of smuggling, collection of revenue for government and facilitating legitimate trade,  the traditional rulers  told the Controller that their palaces are open to him and his officers.

Oba Oyekan expressed satisfaction with the rapport his palace had enjoyed with the command while Oba Sejiro described his domain as being blessed with the position of traditional host community for Seme Border.

  The Controller also addressed field officers at various operational posts at Gbaji and Owode where he declared that the fight against smuggling and other trans-border crimes is total.

He harped on the importance of discipline and directed Officers and Men to translate the change process brought about by the capacity building effort of the Comptroller – General of Nigeria Customs Service (CGC) to manifest actions of politeness, decency and pursuance of the Service objectives.