When Adeniyi shared Customs’ good news with people of Kano, stakeholders
As part of his efforts to strengthen relationships among stakeholders and curb untoward activities within the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), the NIS Comptroller-General, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, recently undertook a series of courtesy visits to different stakeholders in Kano State.
The high-profile visits, according to him, were aimed at seeking the cooperation of stakeholders as well as understanding the challenges they faced. During the four-day visit, Adeniyi met with the Kano State governor, Alhaji Abba Yusuf; Emir of Kano, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero; Emir of Daura, Dr Farouk Umar Farouk as well as former President Muhammadu Buhari, among other personalities in Kano and Katsina States , where core economic issues were discussed.
The tour also presented the opportunity to the NIS boss to address the current high cost of food and other issues relating to the welfare of NCS staff; trade and enhanced revenue generation, as well as enforcing stricter measures to combat illegal exports.On Thursday, March 7, 2024, the CG inaugurated the NCS housing scheme at Gidan Iyali Estate, Millennium City, in Kano as part of the efforts to provide a befitting accommodation to his workers.
Adeniyi, at the event, reiterated his commitment toward improving the welfare of Customs personnel across the federation by providing them quality shelter. Speaking during the flag-off, the CG noted that the project was not the only one the service was undertaken. He disclosed that similar projects were ongoing in Asaba, Yola, Abuja, Enugu and Uyo which were ready for inauguration.
He disclosed that the national spread of the housing scheme was aimed at providing officers of the service the opportunity to access and benefit from the laudable initiative that is not just pocket-friendly but also at convenient locations while appreciating both Kano and Kaduna State governors, Abba Yusuf and Uba Sani, for ensuring the smooth running of the projects in their states.
Adeniyi then urged officers who have shown interest in the projects not to relent, saying “the service is going into an interface with Cooperative Mortgage Bank with the service ICT under the salary section to effectively manage the process of payments of the housing scheme.
”Speaking at the event, one of the partners, Portfolio and Assets Manager of Family Homes, George Anih, said his firm was critical about providing shelters for Nigerians at an affordable price and expressed commitment to partner with the NCS to provide 5,000 houses for officers and men of the NCS, just as Mr Musa Abubakar, Managing Director of Cooperative Mortgage Bank, equally assured the comptroller-general of his commitment to ensure the successful completion of the project.
The CG, on the same day, made a stop-over at the construction site of Customs Cantonment in Mando Kaduna to inspect and ascertain the project’s progress. Addressing newsmen after the inspection, he reiterated his earlier declaration why men and women of NCS need homes of their own. According to him, “the construction of the Federal Operations Unit Zone ‘B’ is essential for enhancing the operational efficiency of Customs personnel and ensuring their welfare adding that it will provide them with modern facilities and amenities to carry out their duties effectively.”
The CGC, who described the completion of the project as a priority for the service, said the structure will serve as a cornerstone of operations in the region, further strengthening the capacity of the service to safeguard borders and combat illicit activities.
Following the inspection, the comptroller-general paid a homage to Kano traditional leader, the Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado Bayero, to strengthen the bond between the NCS and the Kano community. During the visit, he underscored his commitment towards fostering communal collaboration and understanding.
He disclosed that the Customs had made all arrangements to implement measures to alleviate the current challenge of food scarcity and hardship in Kano by distributing seized food items to residents in the state. Additionally, Adeniyi pledged to implement policies aimed at streamlining business processes and engaging with stakeholders to facilitate trade in the state.In his response, the Kano emir lauded Adeniyi for his proactive measures to alleviate citizens’ suffering by sharing seized food items among Nigerians, especially in Kano.
He assured the CGC of his unwavering support, especially in areas that would yield positive results for Kano and Nigeria.While still in Kano, the Customs boss also visited the Kano/Jigawa Command where he addressed officers and men of the service on the prevailing state of food scarcity in the country, urging them to adhere to their work responsibilities. He emphasised the importance of representing the service well to gain the trust of Nigerians.
He charged them to address their conduct, cautioning against the unauthorised use of social media, while also stressing the need for collaboration with relevant stakeholders and fostering good relations with community members. Adeniyi in his visit to Dawanau International Grains Market, urged marketers to uphold the directives of avoiding illegal exports and hoarding of food products. He said the directive underscores the government’s commitment to mitigating the effects of food shortages and ensuring equitable distribution of resources amidst the current national crisis, noting that the service will set up machinery that can be used to address issues around who operates the warehouse.
In his response, president of the market association, Muttaka Isah, told the comptroller-general that members of the association were facing unfounded allegations in some quarters that dealers hoard grains in their warehouses, affirming that the market does not engage in such cruel acts.Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the association, Abdullahi Maidoya, appreciated the CG for his commitment to fostering a conducive business environment for traders within the market, and emphasised the need for collaborative efforts between the service and market stakeholders to address barriers and ensure the smooth flow of essential commodities into the country.
The CG also embarked on an inspection visit to the Malam Aminu Kano International Airport and some Bonded Terminals under the jurisdiction of NCS Kano/Jigawa Area Command.The Customs boss on March 9th visited former President Muhammadu Buhari and his Royal Highness, Emir of Daura, Dr. Farouk Umar Farouk to seek their cooperation towards effective border management. Adeniyi conveyed the purpose behind his recent expedition to the Maiadua Border in Kongolam, attributing it to President Bola Tinubu’s directive aimed at ameliorating the socio-economic challenges faced by Nigerians.
The former president and Emir Farouk while acknowledging the visit, commended the NCS for its crucial role in border protection, which they deemed indispensable for safeguarding national security interests pledging unwavering support to the NCS in its pursuit of excellence.In a stakeholders’ meeting held on March 10, 2024 to facilitate trade relations, Adeniyi reiterated the importance of dialogue and partnership in driving sustainable growth and fostering a conducive business environment.
He also addressed the operational challenges raised by the stakeholders across the import-export ecosystem and fostered a more efficient trade environment.The stakeholders had highlighted challenges associated with the change of procedure code, which is also compounded by a cumbersome process for clearance consignments on transfer from coastal ports to Inland Container Terminals in Kano.
CG emphasized that, “our goal is to streamline processes and ensure a seamless flow of goods across borders, ultimately driving economic growth and development.”To mark the end of his tour, Comptroller-General Adeniyi visited the governor of the state, Abba Yusuf, whom he sought trade collaboration with in the state. The CG noted that Kano has been an esteemed center of commerce and a significant link to trade in Nigeria, adding that NCS was making plans to streamline the process in the state.
Governor Yusuf expressed satisfaction with the CG engagements during his official visit and reiterated the commitment of the Kano State Government to providing the necessary support and cooperation to the Nigeria Customs Service in fulfilling its mandate within the state.Adeniyi also visited the Mamuda Group of Companies in Kano, where he interacted with the Chairman and CEO of the company, Hassan Hammoud and other leaders of the factory, highlighting the importance of easing business processes for traders nationwide.
Hammoud expressed his appreciation to CGC Adeniyi for gracing his company with his presence and assured the company’s unwavering commitment to complying with customs provisions and dedication to maintaining a mutually beneficial relationship with the Nigeria Customs Service.
As the nation faces economic challenges and strives for increased revenue generation, the comptroller-general’s visit to Kano State represents a proactive step towards fostering a more conducive environment for trade.