Innovation and Integrity Key to Success for Newly Promoted Customs Officers at Apapa Command

By Lod Onyeji

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) is bolstering its leadership capacity with a special training session for newly promoted Deputy and Assistant Comptrollers of Customs. At the opening session, Comptroller Emmanuel Oshoba, Customs Area Controller of Apapa Command, urged the officers to harness innovation, integrity, and continuous learning to drive the Service's modernization agenda.

"Your promotions are a testament to your hard work and a call to greater service," Comptroller Oshoba said. "The NCS demands more commitment, innovative thinking, and dedication to excellence in carrying out the Comptroller-General's reform agenda."

The training session aims to equip the officers with advanced knowledge and leadership skills essential for effective trade facilitation and Customs modernization. Comptroller Oshoba highlighted the Service's transformation drive, citing initiatives such as the Advance Ruling System, Time Release Study, Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) programme, and the One Stop Shop mechanism.

"Familiarize yourselves with these tools and deploy them effectively to enhance efficiency, compliance, and risk management," he advised. "There are cases of non-compliance, either from ignorance or deliberate circumvention of procedures. This calls for greater alertness and the smart use of technology for risk assessment."

The Comptroller emphasized the importance of upholding the Service's core values of justice and honesty, particularly as the officers take on more sensitive roles. "As new leaders, some of you will be entrusted with sensitive duties, including custodianship of release passwords and supervision of junior officers," he said. "You must uphold the tenets of justice and honesty, which are core values of the Service."

Comptroller Oshoba assured the officers that capacity building remains a priority for the Service under the current leadership, with continuous training and retraining forming part of the long-term strategy for institutional excellence.

The training session is a significant step towards strengthening the leadership capacity of NCS officers and driving the Service's modernization agenda.