The Acting Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi has charged the newly recruited officers to
showcase a sense of professionalism in weapons handling and eschew misuse of firearms while also improving their human relations, adding that “the era of filing rampant cases of the shooting of innocent Nigerians has passed. Treat everyone with absolute respect and fairness.”
He made this call during the Passing Out Parade of 956 General Duty Junior Personnel who completed their Basic Course 1/2023 at Customs Training College, Goron Dutse, Kano.
The CGC, urged them to be good ambassadors of the Service — by way of protecting its integrity and reputation while discharging their constitutional duties.
He, however, assured Nigerians that the Service will not relent in taking stiffer action on any officer who fails to respect the rights of the citizens,
He further urged the new graduants to contribute their Quota to revenue generation as well as fight against smuggling and illegal businesses.
“You are expected to serve your nation with diligence, discipline, and the highest level of integrity at all times. Upholding these values is not just a duty but a necessity.lAlways be smart in appearance, for it reflects the pride you take in your role as customs officers. Be the embodiment of excellence and service in every aspect of your conduct.
“In the course of your careers, you will be exposed to further training in various areas, including regimentation and weapon handling. I emphasize the need to study the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) diligently and take them seriously. These SOPs are your guide to ensuring effective customs operations.”
The Acting Comptroller-General of Customs, who later granted interviews to journalists, called on Nigerians to support the investment policies that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu implements, expressing hope that it will end economic sabotage and smuggling in the country.
He said, “When you look at some of the policies that he has taken in terms of making businesses thrive, bringing in investors and things like that—so when you have investors, and we have these efforts to rebuild our economy, then there would be no room for smugglers or those who want to sabotage us.”
The Customs boss maintained that the fight against smugglers and their nefarious activities remains the business of all patriotic Nigerians, adding that he has been visiting border communities across the country with a view to discussing with them on collaborative efforts to end smuggling in the country.
He, however, saluted the efforts of General Duty Officers on the parade, saying, “We had a very beautiful parade – which shows that they are well-trained. It shows their capacity to handle situations. It shows comportment. It shows physical endurance. It also demonstrates resilience.”
In his remarks, the Commandant of the Customs Training College, Comptroller Rasheed Adahunse, says, the Junior Officers graduating were found suitable in learning and character
The Commandant, described the regimentation of the 2023 General Duty Staff as a success, adding that it is an excellent achievement on the part It the committed and dedicated trainers as well as the graduands.
