The National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) has described the outgoing Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Alhaji Dikko Inde Abdullahi as the Veteran of Customs Reforms in Nigeria.
Speaking in a press release issued in Lagos on Tuesday by the Head of Special Duties NAGAFF, Mr. Dipo Olayoku and made available to Primetime Reporters, NAGAFF stated that the shoe he was leaving behind was quite too big in the area of revenue function, anti-smuggling, infrastructure, welfare of officers, capacity building, information technology, innovation in risk management technique, trade facilitation and partnership in Customs operations, trade intelligence gathering and international affiliations.
NAGAFF maintained that the outgoing comptroller-General should be remembered as the most hunted Comptroller-General by those who do not wish the Nigeria Customs well adding that it was on record that the outgoing CGC was a bulk breaker and that his capacity and guts to confront the monopoly of certain individuals who carried on with their businesses against the Customs laws with impunity spoke volume of his penchant for excellence.
The release read in part,” Our dear friend Alhaji Inde Dikko Abdullahi, we feel honoured when you called our Founder, Dr. B. O. Aniebonam to break the news of your intentions to bow out with honour from the Service of our nation. We congratulate you for towing the path of honour and grace of God. We are
indeed very proud of you and your leadership in the Service and we are convinced that it has been a case of responsible partnership with your Government.
“Whereas there are those severally calling for your exit to enable their criminal acts against the Nigerian state, we did ask Mr. President to extend your tenure to August 2016 to enable the last stage of your
reforms. The urgent need to reform and restructure the licensing regulation of the Service is very critical because of the inherent threats to revenue functions of the Service. If the Nigeria Customs Service continues to license corporate bodies rather than individuals, the concept and idea of professional standards shall continue to elude Customs formalities and freight forwarding as a profession in Nigeria.
“We are also aware of the moves and lobby of some ex-Customs officers and tax experts who may be eyeing part of the statutory function of the Service in the name of privatization, we shall cross the bridge when we get there”.
The association therefore expressed the hope that he would visit its headquarters and other critical
stakeholders in Lagos to take what it called “a valedictory salute and honour of excellent performance”.
NAGAFF while pointing out that it was the responsibility of the President to appoint a new CG, however observed that it was their opinion and advice that the input of the critical stakeholders may be sought because they know the officers and men of the Service better.
“The ongoing reform and anti-corruption crusade of the present administration requires an officer of honour, integrity, knowledge, zero tolerance for corruption, IT compliant, a trade facilitator and a team player of responsible partnership in Customs operations.
“We shall be forwarding three names that we consider most appropriate for Mr. President’s consideration, who shall be able to sustain the high tempo of the outgoing CGC reforms. The shoe he is leaving behind is quite too big in the area of revenue function, anti-smuggling, infrastructure, welfare of officers, capacity building, information technology, innovation in risk management technique, trade facilitation, partnership in Customs operations, trade intelligence gathering and international
affiliations”, the statement read.
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