The Customs Area Controller, Apapa Command, Comptroller Emmanuel Oshoba, has charged newly-promoted deputy and assistant customs comptrollers to embrace innovation and integrity, as they assume higher responsibilities within the service.
Oshoba gave the charge during the opening session of a special training workshop organised for the newly elevated officers on Wednesday in Lagos.
He applauded the participants on their career advancement, describing their promotion as both “a reward for hard work and a call to greater service delivery.”
Oshoba noted that the new ranks came with increased expectations from the service as well as the nation.
He urged officers to exhibit excellence, discipline and commitment to the modernisation vision of the Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Bashir Adeniyi.
“These elevations come with benefits, challenges and responsibilities. The management of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) demands more commitment, innovative thinking and an unwavering dedication to excellence in carrying out the CGC’s reform agenda.
“Customs operations have become more knowledge-driven with modern initiatives such as the Advance Ruling System, Time Release Study, Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) programme, and the One-Stop-Shop mechanism redefining trade facilitation in Nigeria.
“There are cases of non-compliance, either from ignorance or deliberate circumvention of procedures. This calls for greater alertness and the smart use of technology for risk assessments,” Oshoba said.
The Apapa customs boss charged the officers to familiarise themselves with these tools and deploy them effectively to enhance efficiency, compliance and risk management.
Oshoba encouraged officers to leverage the training for professional development, adding that they should interact, exchange ideas and build networks.
He urged them to strengthen teamwork and leadership capacity across all commands in Lagos.
According to him, as new leaders, they will be entrusted with sensitive duties including custody of release passwords and supervision of junior officers.
He advised the officers to uphold the tenets of justice and honesty, which were core values of the service.
Oshoba assured that capacity building remained a priority for the service under the current leadership, with continuous training and retraining forming part of the long-term strategy for institutional excellence.
He explained that the training session, hosted at the Apapa Area Command aimed at equipping the officers with advanced knowledge and leadership skills essential for driving customs modernisation and effective trade facilitation.
