The tenure of Col. Hameed Ali (rtd.), as the CG of Nigeria Customs Service may have come and gone, but matters arising from his achievements and policies while in office for the period of 8 years have been viewed by Nigerians, men and officers of Nigeria Customs and maritime stakeholders from different perspectives.
It is not in doubt that the tenure of Hameed Ali may have generated robust revenue to the coffers of the Federal Government through some of his policies, which some stakeholders alleged to be alien to the business of Customs, importers and freight forwarders, among others.
However, some of the burning issues that were raised by maritime practitioners, particularly the clearing agents and importers which include: multiple check points inside and outside the ports, arbitrary increase in duty payment without due consultations and difference in freight charges have been promised to be looked into by relevant authorities, over the years.
That of multiple alerts and delay of loaded cargoes inside the ports, after due clearance from the Customs, among others, are as well, yet to be properly addressed by the authorities concerned.
In one of the stakeholders meeting between the Nigerian Ports Authority, the Nigeria Customs Service, freight forwarders/agents, maritime operators and other government agencies operating at the ports, which was held at NPA complex, Onne, Rivers State, earlier this year.
The aforementioned challenges by operators and freight forwarders at the ports were raised by stakeholders at that meeting. The MD of NPA, Mr. Bello Koko, having listened to the issues raised by maritime stakeholders and the submission of Nigeria Customs Service on the issues raised, directed the Customs to ensure that cargoes already examined and exited by it should not be kept any further by the Customs at the ports for whatever reason.
Mr. Bello Koko in the meantime, reminded Customs that such act would jeopardize the safety and cause congestion and unnecessary hazards at the ports, and as well, negates the ideal of Ease of Doing Business at the ports, which the Customs promotes at their various commands/ports.
However, despite being an outsider in the business and management of Nigeria Customs Service before his appointment as the CGC in the last 8 years by former President Mohammadu Buhari. Truth must be told that Col. Hameed Ali, despite all odds, must have made significant impacts in the management of Nigeria Customs Service, through his innovations or policies that were geared towards reformation of the sector.
No doubt that some of Ali’s policies or initiatives while in office could be consolidated on, by the new CGC, while carrying out his own mission and vision for the good of the Nigeria Customs Service.
As a non career officer in the Nigeria Customs Service before his appointment, former CGC Hameed Ali must be commended for his 8 years administrative strides in the Customs Service, which simply implied that he performed creditably well in the eyes of the man that appointed him into office.
While the former CGC was in office, there was a serious clamour from the national leadership of Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), that the next CGC must be a core career officer of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS). Someone that is acquented with the business and relationship that exist between the Customs and the freight forwarders/agents.
Today, that expectation has been made possible, through the recent appointment and decoration of Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, a core career Customs officer as the Comptroller General of Customs (CGC), by the present administration.
CG Adeniyi has indeed, hit the ground running shortly after his appointment and some steps already taken by him to reposition the Customs are commendable.
The dissolution of the Central Strike Force and handing its responsibilities to the Federal Operation Units (FOUs), visit to families of Customs heroes past and other maritime stakeholders will give sense of belonging to all and sundry in the Customs Service and as well, to other maritime stakeholders.
It is evident that some of the reasons why the new CG is taking his bold steps is to ensure transparency, accountability, strict adherence to laid down procedures and above all, huge revenue generation through Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) to the Federal Government, as enshrined in the 2023 Customs Act.
Now that Col. Hameed Ali (rtd.), a non career officer of the Nigeria Customs Service has played his part in managing the affairs of the Customs in the last 8 years, it is expected that CG Adeniyi has to do more, to distinguish himself as a core and quintessential professional Customs officer in the course of his mandate.
He must be aware, no doubt, that expectations from him to deliver are very high. Hence, the need to tighten his belt and be ever ready to make a huge difference while his tenure last.
Because, to whom much is given, much is expected and it is only at the expiration of his tenure that Nigerians, men and officers of Nigeria Customs Service and indeed, maritime stakeholders would have the opportunity to compare between the performance of former CGC Hameed Ali and present CG Adeniyi.
