Modupe Aremu, Assistant Comptroller General of Customs and Zonal Coordinator for Zone A has advised newly promoted customs officers to be more dedicated to service.
Aremu who said this in Lagos on Tuesday shortly after administering the decoration of Comptrollers, Deputy Comptrollers and Assistant Comptrollers of Customs at the zonal headquarters of the service in Lagos, described the elevation as a call to higher responsibility.
While congratulating the newly promoted officers, she advised them to redouble their efforts at revenue collection, trade facilitation and suppression of smuggling.
According to her, Zone A accounts which accounts for the highest revenue collection in the service performed well in 2022 and the standard will not decline in 2023.
She commended her officers for their last year performance while noting that Apapa command alone collected over a N1trillion out of the total of N3trillion target given to the service last year.
She disclosed that the NCS management is committed to the welfare and protection of customs officers with the introduction of a new Customs and Excise Management Act (CEMA)
According to her, the new CEMA will bring perpetrators of attack and murderous action against customs officers to book.
The ACG added that the deployment of ICT and other gadgets of modernisation for customs function will increase with the coming of e-customs which will involve using of drones for aerial surveillance in anti smuggling operations.
Also speaking after the decoration, Joy Edelduok, a newly promoted Comptroller of Customs, described the promotion as a motivation to work harder and update herself further for more service.
She thanked the management of the service for the promotion and pledged more commitment to the goal of the NCS wherever she is deployed to serve.
A newly promoted Deputy Comptroller of Customs, Salamatu Atuluku said.
“This is indeed a memorable moment in my career. I always have a feeling of gratitude to God and the management of the service anytime I get promoted.
“Sincerely, I don’t feel entitled because promotion is a privilege not a right. Even when you are due or perform well in exams, there has to be available vacancy for you to fill
“As a Deputy Comptroller, I can tell you without fear of contradiction that this is a call to higher responsibility.
“It is not only about me going to a higher rank, this is a motivation for more service to the nation. It also confirms that more confidence has been reposed on me.
“I will justify the rank by working harder, studying more because there is no end to learning and I will set the highest example worthy of emulation for my subordinates.
“My loyalty to Nigeria and utmost respect for my superiors will also not be compromised.Let me use this medium to congratulate all my fellow officers who got promoted and advise those who missed it not to be discouraged. Another time will come”
