By Raphael Ede
Enugu
Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu state has identified Nigerian Customs Service as an institution that can provide the alternative revenue channels necessary for government to meet its obligations to the people in the light of the current economic crises occasioned by dwindling earning from the oil sector.
In an address when he received in audience the Controller General of Nigeria Customs Services Col Hameed Ibrahim Ali (rtd) and his team who paid him a courtesy call at the Government House, Enugu, Governor Ugwuanyi noted that the Nigerian
Customs Service occupies a unique and prime position within the hub of the international supply chain of goods and services.
The governor commended the Controller General for the visible steps he had so far taken to restore sanity and discipline in the service for the realization of its mandate.
In his words, “As government, we have always enjoyed the partnership and cooperation of the Nigerian Customs Services, especially in the areas of security and in protecting our people from the activities of smugglers, counterfeiters and other criminal elements.”
Ugwuanyi however, urged the body to intensify and expand its enlightenment programmes to avail the people with adequate information regarding its operations and powers as well as the laws, regulations and procedures guiding various trade ventures and investment.
He also advised that the service should seek to improve its system of addressing complaints from businessmen and ensure that its dealings with them are always guided by the principles of rule of law, justice,
transparency and fairness.
Earlier in an address, the Controller General of the Nigeria Customs Services, Col. Ali said that on his assumption of office as the Controller General of the service that he took it
upon himself to familiarize with what is happening in the service.
He added that having received facts needed that he also thought it wise to reach out to see the work on ground which, he said, was why he was in Enugu.
He said that though Enugu is a land lock state that might not require anything to do with custom services, yet the sons and daughters of the state are the services trading partners who work and earn their living through trading. He said that the state also has the biggest brewery that offers earnings to government.
He also added that the state has an international cargo airport which provides earnings for the services among others.
According to him Nigeria Customs services is the second revenue generating agency in Nigeria, after oil, adding that the institution is even becoming at par with oil industry in generation of revenue in Nigeria.
