From right: Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Timi Bomodi presents award the Commander, 240 battalion of the Nigerian Army.

It was a combination of an evening of glamour and rejoicing as the Seme Command of the Nigeria Customs Service hosted stakeholders across board to what many described as a ‘multilateral’ end of the year get-together.

The event was equally a rollcall of who is who the business of international trade and commerce, and freight forwarding across the Seme –Krake Joint Border Post including security and regulatory agencies comprising the Nigeria Immigration Service, the Nigerian Navy, Police and the Nigerian Army, among several others both from Nigeria and the Republic of Benin.

From right: CAC, Timi Bomodi in a tit-a-tat with the Command image maker, Superintendent of Customs, Hussein Abdullahi during the event

The venue was the ever-serene and breezy Sultan Beach where stakeholders were treated to good music, wine and dinning.

According to the Customs Area Controller of the Seme Border Command, Comptroller Timi Bomodi, it was a time to relax, appreciate one another, network, share some drinks and above all, thank the Almighty God for successful 2023.

The CAC in a party mood.

He noted that such get-together, which is novel in the history of the service, was at the instance of the Comptroller General of the Service, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR, who had asked the various heads of commands of the service to find time to bring stakeholders together in the belief that the support and cooperation of every stakeholder was needed for the service to achieve its core statutory functions and duties.

The Command image maker doubled as the MC of the event.

Recall that on his appointment by President Bola Tinubu in August last year, the new Customs-boss, who was the National Public Relations Officer for the service has pledged to operate an open door-policy and evolve a robust stakeholder engagement mechanism as a way to promoting synergy to enable the service achieve its core goals and objectives.

Some other award recipients at the event.

Comptroller Bomodi while fielding questions at the event said: “I am excited, I am happy, I am grateful, especially as the Area Controller of the Seme-Krake Joint Post of the Nigeria Customs Service. It is a thing of joy, we have to create time to celebrate our successes and you know, 2023 was particularly successful for the Command.

“The Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR has directed that all of us across the nation must find time to host occasions like this so that officers and men of the service and indeed all stakeholders will understand that we are all stakeholders in this venture and that our successes are not limited to the Nigeria Customs Service, it is the success of the Nigeria Immigration Service, Nigerian Navy, Nigerian Army, the business community, Freight forwarders, it is indeed the success Nigeria.

From right: Head of the Customs Administration of the Republic of Benin presents an award to one of the gallant officers.

“It is the success of all because we even have our friends and colleagues from the Republic of Benin, so it is the success of everyone, and they are here celebrating with us because we know that if they do not cooperate with us, then we are going to have very serious problems, so we want to emphasise that, so that people will understand that this is a joint venture and so all of us have a stake in making a success of our own story.

“By the grace of God, we will sustain this; at the end of the year, we take stock; where we fall short, we tell ourselves that and individuals that standout, we recognise them and give them even if it is a token of appreciation to encourage them and challenge the others, which is in appreciation of the efforts they put in providing whatever assistance they have given to us. So it is something we will allow to continue by God’s grace, it is something that has come to stay and will remain a tradition in the Nigeria Customs Service.

“Yes, it is a ‘multilateral’ gathering indeed because you can see that everybody is represented; all stakeholders are represented both on the side of the regulatory agencies, on the side of the business community, the government and even our neighbours on the other side of the border, everybody is represented and it is a good thing because it is not only when you sit in your office, wearing your uniform, you take your pen and you work. Unofficially, we can also be human beings, be ourselves and network, talk to ourselves; that way, we will be able to make more progress.”

A highpoint of the event was the presentation of awards of recognition to organisations and individuals including officers and men of the service, who in one way of the other helped the command in its functions and duties. First on the row was the 240 battalion of the Nigerian Army, which was received by the commander.

The next was the Nigeria Immigration Service, which assisted the command in its trade facilitation efforts while the Nigerian Navy was also presented an award of recognition for helping the command in the seizure of 976 bags of smuggled rice. Others include the Badagy Chamber of Commerce, Mines and Agriculture BACCIMA, which was received by the chairman of the chamber. A freight forwarding firm; Only God is Good was also among the corporate bodies to be recognised.

For the CAC’s award of recognition for the officers and men, Superintendent of Customs, J.O Aghedo was recognised for the protection of wild life in which the command seized over 64 live parrot birds in addition to other wildlife seizures. This seizure also earned the command a special recognition at the just concluded Comptroller General’s conference held in Lagos.

Also recognised was Assistant Superintend Customs II, H.K Eneh for his prowess in anti-smuggling operations in rice seizure. He is reputed to have seized over four trailer load of rice during the 2023 fiscal year while Superintendent of Customs, E.D. Ashinze was adjudged best support in forward operations.

Superintendent of Customs, B.G. Gusau was the star officer of the year, clinching multiples of recognitions including the best in overall performance in anti-smuggling operations, best in the seizure of drugs and pharmaceuticals as well as best in anti-smuggling operations in terms of the seizure of Premium Motor Spirit PMS.

Other awardees include the recognition for the best seizure in smuggled vehicles, which was clinched by Chief Superintendent of Customs M.S.A Abdullahi, Assistant Inspector of Customs, G.E. Ayemobuwa while Superintendent of Customs B.B. Wajiga emerged the best dressed officer.

In attendance at the event were senior security officers from the Republic of Benin including the Commissioner of Police and his wife, the head of Customs Administration of the country and chairman of the Badagry West LCDA, Hon. Gbenu Joseph, among several others.