The Apapa Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has taken a significant step towards enhancing the leadership skills of its newly promoted Officers.
The Customs Area Controller (CAC) Comptroller Emmanuel Oshoba on Wednesday welcomed the Deputy and Assistant Comptrollers to a special training programme aimed at preparing them for higher responsibilities.
In his opening remarks, Comptroller Oshoba congratulated the Officers on their promotions, emphasizing that it was a testament to their hard work and dedication to the Service.
He noted that with their new roles comes greater expectations from the leadership of the NCS and the Nigerian public, stressing that they must demonstrate higher levels of discipline, excellence, and accountability.
The Nigeria Customs Service is undergoing a transformation drive aimed at repositioning its operations for efficiency, transparency, and global competitiveness. Comptroller Oshoba highlighted that Customs operations have become increasingly knowledge-driven, powered by technology and innovation designed to simplify procedures and enhance trade facilitation.
He cited key modernization initiatives, including the Advance Ruling System, Time Release Study, Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) programme, and the One Stop Shop mechanism, as examples of the Service’s commitment to reform.
To effectively carry out their new responsibilities, Apapa Customs boss urged the newly promoted officers to familiarize themselves with these modern tools and utilize them to enhance compliance, efficiency, and risk management.
The CAC cautioned that despite these efforts, there are still cases of non-compliance, either from ignorance or deliberate circumvention of procedures, and therefore, they must be vigilant and use technology smartly for risk assessment and enforcement.
The training programme, hosted at the Apapa Command headquarters, is designed to equip the Officers with advanced leadership and operational skills required for effective service delivery.
Oshoba advised the participants to maximize the training opportunity by engaging in open discussions, exchanging ideas, and networking to strengthen teamwork and leadership skills across various commands.
As new leaders, some of the Officers will be entrusted with sensitive duties, including the custodianship of release passwords and supervision of junior officers. Comptroller Oshoba emphasized that they must uphold the principles of justice, honesty, and transparency, which are core values of the Service. He reiterated that capacity building remains a major priority under the leadership of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR.
“The Customs management is committed to developing human capital as a strategic component of modernization, emphasizing that an informed workforce is the foundation of sustainable reform”
Oshoba commended the facilitators and participants, expressing confidence that the exercise would equip the Officers with the necessary skills to excel in their new roles.
Newspoint247 reports that the training session is part of a broader initiative to prepare newly promoted Officers for higher responsibilities and to strengthen Customs modernization, trade facilitation, and revenue efficiency. With this programme, the Apapa Command is taking a proactive step towards ensuring that its Officers are equipped to meet the challenges of a rapidly changing trade landscape.
