The National Association of Govt. Approved Freight Forwarders has pledged to submit three names officers it believes could succeed Alhaji Inde Dikko Abduallahi, the Comptroller General of Nigeria Customs Service.
“We shall be forwarding three names that we consider most appropriate for Mr. President’s consideration, who shall be able to sustain the high tempo of the outgoing CGC reforms”.
The Association made this suggestion in a press release in which it hinted also that “the Comptroller General of Customs Alhaji Inde Dikko Abdullahi may have informed Mr. President of his intention to take a bow out of the Service after six years of sojourn”.
The press release signed by Dipo Olayoku,the associations head of special duties reads:”As the Comptroller General of Customs Alhaji Inde Dikko Abdullahi may have informed Mr. President of his intention to take a bow out of the Service after six years of sojourn, as the Comptroller General of Customs, we consider him and honour him with the title – “The Veteran of Customs Reforms in Nigeria”. We do hope that he will visit us and other critical stakeholders in Lagos to take a valedictory salute and honour of excellent performance. Whereas it is the prerogative of Mr. President to appoint a New CGC, it is our opinion and advice’s that the input of the critical stakeholders may be sought because we know the officers and men of the Service better. The ongoing reform and anti corruption crusade of the present administration requires an officer of honour, integrity, knowledge, zero tolerance for corruption, IT compliant, a trade facilitator and a team player of responsible partnership in Customs operations.
“We shall be forwarding three names that we consider most appropriate for Mr. President’s consideration, who shall be able to sustain the high tempo of the outgoing CGC reforms. The shoe he is leaving behind is quite too big in the area of revenue function, anti-smuggling, infrastructure, welfare of officers, capacity building, information technology, innovation in risk management technique, trade facilitation and partnership in Customs operations, trade intelligence gathering and international affiliations. As we may witness the exit of our icon and a Veteran of Customs reforms, we as critical stakeholders and interested parties shall continue to remember that Dikko is the most hunted Comptroller General of Customs by those who do not wish the Nigeria Customs Service well.
They claimed that “It is on record that the outgoing CGC is a bulk breaker, his capacity and guts to confront the monopoly of certain individuals who carry on with their businesses against the Customs laws with impunity speaks volume of his penchant for excellence. The exploits in Kano, Jibiya border and sealing of uncustomed rice importations in the various warehouses in Lagos State, is a pointer that the rich can also cry especially when they flagrantly breach the laws and regulations guiding international trade in Nigeria.
“Our dear friend Alhaji Inde Dikko Abdullahi, we feel honoured when you called our Founder Dr. B. O. Aniebonam to break the news of your intentions to bow out with honour from the Service of our nation. We congratulate you for towing the path of honour and grace of God. We are indeed very proud of you and your leadership in the Service and we are convinced that it has been a case of responsible partnership with your Government.
“Whereas there are those severally calling for your exit to enable their criminal acts against the Nigerian state, we did ask Mr. President to extend your tenure to August 2016 to enable the last stage of your reforms. The urgent need to reform and restructure the licensing regulation of the Service is very critical because of the inherent threats to revenue functions of the Service. If the Nigeria Customs Service continues to license corporate bodies rather than individuals, the concept and idea of professional standards shall continue to elude Customs formalities and freight forwarding as a profession in Nigeria.
“We are also aware of the moves and lobby of some ex-Customs officers and tax experts who may be eyeing part of the statutory function of the Service in the name of privatization, we shall cross the bridge when we get there.
“Once again we say bravo to a trail blazer. It shall be well.
