The outgoing Zonal Coordinator in charge of Zone A, Lagos of the Nigeria Customs Service, Assistant Comptroller General Charles Edike has said that the zone under his leadership, which is made up of the various commands units and formations generated a whopping N1.6 trillion in 14 months.

The zone is made up of all Customs formations in the Southwest region of the country including Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Ekiti and Osun commands, the Industrial Command and the Seme and Idiroko border stations.

Edike, who was recently redeployed to the Human Resource Development unit at the Customs Headquarters, Abuja was appointed ACG in charge of Zone A in November, 2015, having been Area Controller for Apapa, Tin Can Island Ports and Murtala Mohammed International Airport at various times.

While speaking at a brief handover ceremony in Lagos, Edike also said that the zone, which he had the rare privilege of superintending over, equally collected a total of N662billion revenue from November 2015 to December 2016.

“From when I was posted out of Apapa Command in November 2015 till date, the Zone generated N662billion. As controller at the Ports Terminal and Multi-services PTML, Tin Can Island Port, Airport, Apapa and also as Controller Joint Task Force, Customs Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offence Commission ICPC and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC, a total of N1.607 trillion was raised between my colleagues and I. I want to appreciate God for the opportunity to serve in all these commands and also as the Zonal Coordinator of this Zone”, he said emotionally.

He however attributed this great feat to the caliber of dedicated and vigilant officers and men posted to the zone by the Comptroller General of the Service, Col. Hameed Ali.

“I also want to appreciate the Comptroller General of Customs who in his wisdom assigned me to this office that I am leaving today. All of this feat would not have been possible if not for the fine officers that the CGC posted here, especially the area controllers who worked with me to generate this huge revenue. I appreciate all of you”, he also said.

While commended the Controllers for their support and cooperation they gave to him, he charged them to give even more of such support to the incoming Zonal Coordinator, ACG Monday Abueh.

“The support you gave to me please shower it on the ACG Monday Abueh who is taking over from me so that he can also work and surpass the records that we set together in the overall interest of not only the service but also the Nigerian nation,” he said.

Edike also expressed appreciation to other sister government agencies as well as the media for their support and cooperation, which he argued contributed immensely the anti smuggling and increasing revenue drive of the service.

“Similarly, I want to thank partner government agencies such as the Nigerian Shippers Council, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency NIMASA, Nigerian Ports Authority, terminal operators; especially APM Terminals, NAFDAC, Nigerian Army, Police and the rest. We thank all government agencies that have partnered us in achieving this huge revenue figures,”Edike also said.

The new Zonal Coordinator had while speaking at the event said he was overwhelmed by the achievement of his predecessor and promised to do his best in the zone.

“I am not surprised at the level of success ACG Edike has recorded because he has served in various commands and has gone on various trainings and has built enough capacity to deliver quality service in the Zone”, he said