Stakeholders’ Laud Customs CG, Adeniyi’s Leadership Capacity

…Says Iconic Maritime Personality Award, Qualified And Deserving

BY EGUONO ODJEGBA

Industry stakeholders and beyond, yesterday, at the Lagos Airport Hotel Ikeja, spoke glowingly about the leadership credential of the Comptroller General (CG) of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR, during his decoration as the “Iconic Maritime Personality of the Year 2024″.

Chairman of the Occassion, Prince Shittu speaking

According to the stakeholders, Adeniyi did not only raise the professional operating standards of the Service but introduced finesse into the work culture, raising  stakeholders’ confidence and compliance disposition to a height hitherto, unknown.

L-R: Dr. Nweke, APPFLON President, Alhaji Sulaiman and ANLCA VP, Prince Oduntan

The equally iconic former National President of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Prince Olayiwola Shittu who led the goodwill messages, commended the CG’s all achievements in the area of reforms, innovation, technology and strategic engagement and partnership since assuming control of the NCS in June 2023.

Frm left, Comptrooler Olomu and Prince Oduntan

Prince Shittu described the award bestowed on him by journalists covering the maritime sector was a fit and well deserved recognition, noting that the award coming from professionals known to be very critical of operators scorecard, underscores the relevance of the honour as well as underpin the effectiveness and efficiency his leadership has provided the customs service; of late. Prince Shittu who doubled as Chairman of the Award Ceremony, explained that apart from achieving much in office within a short period of time, noted that Adeniyi has demonstrated a further leadership credential, for being a listening CG.

L-R: Senior maritime journalists at the event, Friday Odemena, Biyi Osijo and Shola Fadeyi

This is even as he lauded the CG for accepting criticism that trailed the recent introduction of the 4% Free on Board (FOB) Levy with leadership poise and for agreeing to proposal by stakeholders for wider and additional consultation.

“I want to congratulate Bashir Adeniyi who is the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service, and also the Comptroller General of Customs Licensed Agents (general laughter), for this important award. I don’t know where to start from, not because l don’t know what to say but because of the inadequacy l may have in describing him fully for the personality he has been for almost 35 years.

Frm left, MARAN President, Godfrey Bivbere in a hilarious greeting exchange with Otunba Wale Oni, publisher of Port News newspaper

“We are here to honour him, he deserves much and l want to tell you that after today’s honour, l will invite him privately to my village to honour him. I want to recognize two people as we go along, one is Aare Hakeem Olarewaju, for Vice Chiarman of Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) and today, Chairman of the Customs Consultative Council (CCC). The second person is my brother, Prince Segun Oduntan, the Vice National President of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents,  a body l was the president for eight good years.

“A body l succeeded in providing quality leadership because our CGC today, was there guiding my steps along the line. That does not mean we don’t quarrel, and l like his style of quarreling, sometimes it takes some days and weeks to send the bomb back to you…(general laughter again), thank you for been here today, we have had so many CGCs but you have been special and different.

“We have people of caliber here waiting to talk about you, stakeholders we can gain a lot from their insight about what made you a successful CG within the time the time you have come onboard, what you have done in the customs service which we have also imbibed even though we are licensed customs agents. You told me that it is also in the interest of the job that licensed customs agents should also train themselves; and we are doing the training and it is working.

“Lastly, let me commend your effort for receiving the 4% Free-on-Board (FOB) value increase by the federal government and your ability to convey our concerns back to them, and succeeded in persuading them to put it on hold”.

Also speaking, Alhaji Olamrewaju Prince Oduntan  respectively applauded the CGs sterling leadership strides so far, even as they both lauded his open door policy and his listening capacity which they say marks him out for greater achievements in office.

CGC Adeniyi speaking after receiving the award

On their part, Publisher of the Maritime West Africa Business Newsmagazine, Mr. Okey Ibeke and the Lagos Customs Zonal Coordinator, ACG Obih said the ICONIC Maritime Personality Award said the ICONIC Maritime Personality Award merely emphasized the visionary acumen of the CG.

Ibeke reeled out the NCS unprecedented revenue collection, anti-smuggling activities, trade facilitation, national security, staff welfare, inter-agency collaboration, and strategic partnership under Adeniyi’s watch as reasons the NCS success record improved significantly since 2023.

Collaborating Ibeke, ACG Obih while provided a summary of the quick win tricks which the CG deployed by enumerating some of the support pillars.

“The conferment of this golden award of Iconic Maritime Personality of the Year 2024 on the CGC reflects the remarkable transformation that has occurred within the Service under his stewardship.

“The modernization of the Nigeria Customs procedure, strengthening of risk management system and optimization of revenue collection processes have yielded unprecedented results. In the past one year, we have exceeded our revenue collections in a very remarkable way, our target was 5.079 trillion but we exceeded it and we collected 6.1 trillion contributing significantly to the federal government fiscal objectives.

“Under his leadership the Service has fostered relationships with other government agencies, international organizations and the private sector including the maritime industry. This strategic alliance has improved intelligence sharing leading to effective joint operation in combating smuggling and other forms of Customs offences.

“The relationship has also facilitated trade, reduce clearance time and enhance compliance level among stakeholders. The deployment of cutting edge technology has revolutionalize our operation advance scanning system and digitalize solutions have significantly improve our cargo examination processes and risk management capabilities. These innovations have reduced cargo dwelling time and improve ease of doing business at our various ports.”

More senior maritime journalists: Moses Eremosele, Godwin Obi, Finsho Olojo and Sesan Onileimo, publisher of the populay Shipping Position newspaper

Obih concluded by assuring the CGC that his footsteps will no doubt shape the perspective and future endeavours of the service.

“Your leadership excellence has inspired a generation of Customs officers who can now approach their duties with new vigour and commitment. The emphasis on continuous training and capacity building have equipped our officers with the knowledge and skills needed to meet contemporary customs challenges, the result is a more competent and confident workforce that consistently deliver on his mandate.

“The international recognition garnered by the Nigeria Customs under your leadership speaks volumes, from the World Customs Organization to regional bodies; your innovative approaches to Customs administration have become reference point for best practices. Your diplomatic acumen has strengthened our international partnership and position Nigeria as a key player in global trade facilitation” he said.

One of the long time friends of the CG at the event, Mr. Tunde Akao described him as a natural leader, who has proved to be a round peg in a round hole; noting that many more laurels for the CG is not unexpected.

“He is a natural leader, so when President Bola Ahmed Tinubu appointed him as CG in 2023, l was the first to write an article which l titled ‘The Wale That l Knew’ and l said the appointment is one of a round peg in a round hole.

“After 16 months, the CG has actually proved to be a round peg in a round hole. The day he was appointed he made two pledges, he said: “I am going to demystify the Office of the CG, lam going to make it simple, am going to humanize it, am going to ensure that people have access to their CG.’

Secondly, he also said he will put Nigeria as the centre piece of his policy and if you have been following him, the words you’re going to hear from his mouth,  morning, afternoon and evening  is ‘how do we move Nigeria forward. What do we need to make more progress as a country?’

“The question today is not about this honour and award for the CG, he has received countless awards in the last eighteen months, so he is an award winning CG because he has been making impacts. He received one about four months ago in Europe, so the question is those who have not honoured him and l believe their own will come.”

Akao also described Adeniyi an a bundle of humility who never neglected his friends on account of high office.

“He is an extremely humble man, he has never dropped any of us that are his friends, you know when some people get into position of power, they don’t recognize their friends again. He has kept all of his friends and we are so proud of him. We believe the best is yet to come.”

In his remark, the CG thanked the maritime journalists for considering him for the award and pledged to maintain the tempo, even as he urged for unity amongst the beat practitioners, noting that togetherness is strength.

In attendance is elder statesman,  ACG Charles Edike Rtd,  ACG Festus Okon Rtd, Comptrollers Babatunde Olomu, Comptroller Frank Onyeka, Elder Asu Beks, AMATO Chairman, Mr. Femi Ogungbemile, representatives from the OPS including Dangote Group.