‘Customs Will Continue To Support Ogun State Excise, FTZ Industrial Enterprises’ – Adeniyi

BY FUNMI ALUKO

CGC Adeniyi with Ogun 11 Customs boss, shuaibu during the visit of the former

Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR recently assured stakeholders in the Excise factories and others at the Ogun State Free Trade Zone industrial sector of his commitment to support the prosperity of their businesses.

He made this known in Abeokuta, the headquarters of Ogun II Area Command of Nigeria Customs Service Monday when he visited the command as part of his familiarisation tour, assuring that their operations are a priority to the service.

Shuaibu making a point during the CGC’s meeting with stakekeholders

This is even as the Customs Area Controller; Comptroller Ahmadu Shauibu highlighted the economic roles of the general and specific industrial parks and excise factories within the command.

While addressing the industrial stakeholders, Adeniyi said:  “I have made it a deliberate policy to put your operations at the cornerstone of our activities.  My understanding is that you are critical stakeholders for us, it is through your activities that we can report our own activities, and it is, therefore, in our interest that we do everything to ensure that your companies and businesses prosper.

“It is not all the time that Customs Officers are overzealous in implementation of the law; most of the time, they keep in their mind the basic objectives behind these entities” adding:

“It is the intention of the government through enterprises to boost foreign exchange for Nigeria and its economy creates jobs for Nigerians, and of course, to enhance Nigeria’s economic development and this is why a number of concessions, a number of waivers have been granted to free zone operators.”

On issues raised by some of the stakeholders, the CGC said, “I have set up a committee consisting of representatives of enterprises, The Nigerian Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA) and Oil and Gas Authority, working with representatives from my Office to look into all the areas of concern”.

While appreciating the CGC for his visit, Shauibu, highlighted critical interventions the command has made under his watch, plus other achievements of the command.

Shuaibu said “At our level, since we came in, we have brought in about 18 factories under excise control.”