The core mandate of every Customs establishment is not only to mount checkpoints at border areas and generate revenue. Their assignments are much more than that. They secure our borders to suppress the inflow of unsafe items.
Two months after his appointment, soldiers in the Niger Republic overthrew the democratically elected president, Muhammad Bazoum, from power – and their action triggered ECOWAS to cut ties and shut down their borders with Niger.
This measure prompted the Comptroller-General of Customs, Ag. CGC Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR to take off from Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja to Sokoto State, where he arrived at Sultan Abubakar International Airport at about 8:35 in the morning before he proceeded to Ilela Border Station.
As a man of honour, the Ag. CG decides to stop over at the Palace of Sarkin Gobir of Gwadabawa, Alhaji Lawali Muhammad Zayyana, to pay him homage and to appreciate his support for the Service.
The Sarkin Gobir of Gwadabawa, who welcomed CGC Bashir Adewale MFR and his entourage to his Palace and then reassured him of his constant support, also affirmed that Customs would continue to enjoy the flavour of their cemented rapport – and total compliance from his subjects.
To reach Ilela, the last township where Nigeria shares a border with Niger from Sokoto is about 80 kilometres journey. However, the outcome of the new exercise seems obvious, as hundreds of drivers pulled over their loaded trailers to wait for the next order.
Arriving at Customs Outstation Ilele, a team of officers and men of the Nigeria Customs Service, officers from other sister agencies, traditional rulers and members of trade unions were all set to receive the CGC and hear from him – and also voice out their concerns with regards to the exercise.
Some journalists who graced the function also had the privilege of having a one-on-one interview with the CGC, before he was later taken to the border area, where he had a tete-a-tete briefing on the compliancy status by Comptroller Musa Omale, the Area Controller in charge of Sokoto/Zamfara Area Command.
And now comes the time when Ag. CGC arrived at Customs House Sokoto, where he received a ceremonial quarter-guard as a sign of welcoming him to Sokoto, after which he received a souvenir from the Customs Area Controller at his office.
This is where the CGC’s exercise of inspecting the level of compliance with the presidential order came to a close and marked the beginning of the journey to Katsina.
In the tradition of the CGC, his first point of call was Katsina State Government House. The CGC formally addressed the Deputy Governor of Katsina state, Farouk Lawal, who represented the Executive Governor.
In response, the Deputy Governor expressed the commitment of the government and the good people of Katsina state to abide by the presidential order.
Now, time to embark on another journey of 51 kilometres to Customs Katsina-Jibia Outstation to examine the level of compliance with the presidential order and to interact with the residents of the border area and stakeholders.
The CGC’s first address was to officers comprising other security agencies before he had a meeting with members of stakeholders.
The CGC implored officers and men of the Service at the border area to sensitise community members about the rationale behind shutting the borders down.
The Ag. Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR, then wrapped up his official visitations to one of the Veteran Customs Officers in Katsina, Lawan Bagiwa, who retired as Assistant Comptroller General, at his residence in Katsina town.
Ag. CGC Adeniyi MFR told him that he decided to visit him out of respect in view of his meritorious and gallant service.
The retired Assistant Comptroller General, Bagiwa Lawal, appreciated Ag. CGC Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR for stopping by to greet him out of respect and congratulated him on his appointment.
The Ag. CGC then proceeded to the residence of former Comptroller General of the Service, Late Dikko Inde, to greet his family, specifically his elderly mother. The session was also blessed with special prayers to the late Comptroller General of Customs Abdullahi Dikko Inde.
Late Dikko Inde’s family were elated to have received the CGC at their home and prayed that his tenure would be bright and hitch-free.
