Maritime Journalists, Customs Pledge Stronger Partnership
BY FUNMI ALUKO
The maritime media and management of the Nigeria Customs Service yesterday, pledged to strengthen their existing relationship through improved open door policy and engagements, mutual trust and understanding, during a dinner meeting called by the Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR, in Lagos.
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He assured the press particularly the maritime beat of an continuous interactions even as he noted that the mandate of the customs service would be better driven through developmental journalism hinged on utmost good faith and professionalism; adding that mutual understanding and partnership will contribute more positively to steering the affairs of the service.
“My intention is just to register our presence in Lagos. We know what Lagos means to Customs and in doing so, we solicit your support, guidance, corporation and partnership in steering the affairs of the Nigeria Customs Service.
“I will open my doors to you, it’s going to be an open governance system; you will have the opportunity to contribute, to check the directions in which the customs would go while I am in charge”.
Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Journalists Lagos Council, Leye Ajayi and President of the League of Maritime Editors, Chief Timothy Okorocha speaking on behalf of maritime journalists assured the customs boss of maximum support for his management, especially on the backdrop of being one of them.
They further noted that Adeniyi’s success in office will give the maritime media a sense of mutual fulfillment in contributing to the growth of the national economy.
In his meeting earlier in the day with customs areas controllers in the Lagos zonal command and the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), Adeniyi said much progress has been made in the past ten years, and that there is need to continue on that trajectory, most especially the need to continue to improve on the dynamics, processes and the required compliance in customs trade.
He said, “In over 10 years, Customs has made some progress, we have broken several grounds on ICT, human resource development, revenue generation and in the next few years, we will be building and consolidating on those grounds and hoping that there are some areas where we will deploy innovative solutions.
“Collaboration is going to be very strong on the agenda of Customs and this is why we are starting this with our partners in the Media”, he added.
“We will be open to collaborating with our partners in bringing more comprehensive reports to let Nigerians know what our challenges are, what the gaps are, what we can do to bridge those gaps to improve border security and generally, Nigeria.”
In his remark, President of the Nigeria Guild of Editors, Eze Anaba congratulated Adeniyi on his appointment and assured him and his management of NGE support while also noting the importance of Communication.
“Your coming on board is a refreshing development and I am sure we will enjoy such interactions. On behalf of my colleagues, I assure you that if you continue this way, the Nigeria Customs Service will have it good in the media.
“Some people say they’re afraid of the Media but the truth is that, if there’s no communication, if there’s no interaction, there will be miscommunication”, he stressed.
In the CGC’s company is the Deputy Comptrollers General of Customs in charge of Tariff and Trade, Hamza Gummi ; Enforcement, Investigation & Inspection, Mohammed Abba-Kura; Excise, Free Trade Zone & Industrial Incentives, Jack Ajoku; and Zonal Coordinator, Zone ‘A’, ACG Festus Okun, among others.