Comptroller F. C Nwanze On The Dais

BY EGUONO ODJEGBA

Whereas it is no longer news that the former Deputy Comptroller in charge of Enforcement at the Apapa Port Command, Fidelis Chukwuemeka Nwanze was one of the beneficiaries of the recent promotion, his decoration, last Thursday at the Customs Training College Ikeja Lagos has set tongues wagging.

Photo 1: Comptroller Fidelis Chukwuemeka Nwanze during his decoration at the Nigeria Customs Training College, Ikeja, Lagos Thursday.

While some stakeholders have reportedly been heard talking about the latest hurricane in the service’s anti-smuggling operation, some of his former superiors and colleagues who believe in him are said to also looking forward to how best Nwanze would be deployed.

pprehensive about his furture posting and what it holds for those that are  Having reached the peak of his career progression, Comptroller F. C Nwanze is no longer a stranger to the internal workings of the customs, thus his pledge to re-dedicate himself to the service of fatherland through the NCS is apt.

Believed to be well grounded in all areas of the service’s primary tasks, it is said that Nwanze is equal to the bill whether it concerns general administration, valuation, revenue, enforcement, classification and tariff reading; Nwance has demonstrated quite an uncommon poise in exe cutting his enforcement in the past three years, which has yielded extraordinary results.

Those familiar with the NCS enforcement unit are also familiar with his indelible footprint in his last station at the Enforcement Unit of Apapa Command. Feared and respected, Nwanze is believed to have brought savvy and finesse into the enforcement work culture, so much so that stakeholders with a predisposition to non compliance have been noted to be coming around.

Interestingly, the Apapa Command within the period Nwanze manned its exit gate recorded surpluses in revenue generation and revenue recoveries through Debit Notices and Duty Paid Values, some of which were vide query and amendment, re-assessments and revaluation of cargo that Nwanze had reasons to frown at.

With a fairly long history in corrective and prevention, Nwanze first cut his teeth deep in anti-smuggling and enforcement duty at the Seme Border Area Command, where his superiors reckoned with his easy warfare in the overrunning of smugglers and the apparent undermining of their numerous tactics.

His uncanny mien and audacity in confronting undesirable elements bent of cutting corners in the trade value chain especially within the entry points has been a source of admiration and consternation respectively, to both his superiors within the management and the bad guys.

A cross-section of the newly promoted officers shortly after their decoration at the Nigeria Customs Service Training College, Ikeja, Lagos Thursday.

While his promotion to the comptroller rank promises some sort of definite actions on the part of management in the area of deployment,  no doubt, Nwanze must already be a source of worry for the get-rich-quick and non compliant players who prioritize their narrow interests over and above the national economy and security.

Thus non compliant traders and other stakeholders who have the habit of cutting corners will lose sleep as Nwanze climbs the operational ladder and as yet another asset in the horizon for the customs service.

Speaking during his decoration ceremony the Customs Zonal Coordinator in charge of Zone A,  ACG Charles Orbih advised him along the other promoted Comptrollers, Deputy Comptrollers and Assistant Comptroller to adhere to the visionary leadership of the Comptroller General of Customs.

Orbih said the decoration ceremony must be seen to align with the commitment of the Service to excellence and professional growth; and its continued journey towards a fully modernized and efficient NCS.

“Under the visionary leadership of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR dsm FNIIA, psc+, the Service has embarked on a transformative journey anchored on three cardinal pillars: consolidation of automation processes and digital infrastructure, collaboration with stakeholders and sister agencies for enhanced trade facilitation, and innovation in our approach to customs operations and revenue generation.

“This progressive vision has created an environment where excellence thrives, as evidenced by today’s promotion ceremony. I extend my heartfelt congratulations to all promoted officers gathered here today.

“Your elevation is a testament to your exceptional dedication, unwavering integrity, and outstanding contributions to our nation’s economic security. The Service has demonstrated remarkable fairness and thoroughness in selecting the very best among its officers for promotion, ensuring that merit and performance remain the bedrock of career advancement”, adding:

“As the premier Zone of the Nigeria Customs Service, Zone ‘A’ maintains unprecedented standard in revenue generation, revenue collection, trade facilitation, anti-smuggling.”

Looking unassuming and resplendent in his new uniform and with a measured sense of gratitude, Comptroller Nwanze responding to journalists’ questions on how he felt, described his promotion as a dream come true.

“It’s a dream come true and I thank God for seeing it come true. I believe that to whom much is given, much is expected of him”, he said, pledging to do his very best to continue to lift up the image of the NCS whereever he finds himself.

While appreciating the Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi and the Nigeria Customs Service Board for approving his promotion and decoration, Comptroller Nwanze also thanked his better half and lovely wife, children, colleagues and friends all of who he said stood by him and contributed to the reality of the day.