Collaboration with Army has increased Customs revenue haul - CG

ABIOLA Seun |

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) yesterday said that the relationship between the service and the Nigerian Army has helped to increase the revenue of the service.

This was disclosed by the Comptroller General of the service, Col. Hameed Ali (Rtd) while declaring open a 5-day Workshop on Strategic Communication for Public Relations Officers of Nigeria Customs Service.

Ali who was represented by the Customs Area Controller of the Federal Operations Unit (FOU) zone A, Ikeja Compt. Aliyu Mohammed, said since the support of the Army, the Service had been able to make considerable seizures and increase revenue.

Recall that the service had announced in 2017 that it generated a total of N1.12tn between January and December 26 stated that the revenue was made possible through the strict deployment of the digital identification method, which enabled officers to identify consignments such as vehicles, using the mandatory Vehicle Identification Number.

Col. Ali however described the relationship between the service and other security agencies like Nigerian Army as very productive.

Ali said joint operations of service personnel at the borders have contributed to seizures and arrests without casualties while bringing their operatives closer for national interest.

He further added that a number of reforms introduced under his watch, impacts on service delivery to the country and promotes closer tie with sister security agencies.

He said, gone are the days when some deviant soldiers engaged in rice smuggling as the relationship between both agencies is contributing to the fight against trans-border crimes.

The CGC lauded the service personnel for increased revenue collection and unprecedented suppression of smuggling while promoting ease of doing business without compromising national security.

Speaking earlier, acting Commandant of Nigerian Army School of Public Relations and Information (NASPRI), Col. Mustapha Anka commented the initiative of training for information managers as a vital aspect of internal and external communication for achieving corporate goals.

He further stated that the training will help the public relation officers of the command increase their proficiency and capacities on the job.

He said, “The training will foster existing relationship between the Nigerian Army School of public relations and information and will also increase proficiency and capacity of various PR officers on the job,” he stated.