Customs train forty officers to combat smuggling on water

In line with the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) conventions, management of the Nigeria Customs Service has empowered forty officers and men of the eastern and western marine commands on modern techniques to man the two sea going vessels.

The four weeks mandatory training for personnel of the service which ended on Thursday in Lagos, was against the backdrop of the two sea going vessels,which may commence operations in a couple of weeks.

Both commands have a total of twenty personnel each that benefited from the four weeks training put together by management of the service, Port Plus Nigeria Limited and Coastal Maritime Academy.

Speaking at the end of the programme /presentation of certificates to participants , Head of Operations, Port Plus Nigeria Limited, Commodore Joseph Giwa (Rtd) stressed the need for personnel of the service to apply what they have learnt whilst at sea.

According to him, the company was consulted by management of the service to build the two ocean going ships for namely ” MV Group Of Nine “and “MV Customs Pride”, adding that the
Coastal Maritime Academy played key role in conducting some of the courses for personnel.

Giwa said the company is a maritime service provider in the area of maritime security for vessels,building of vessels and the service is one of its many clients.

He noted that some of the training include handling of small arms and maintenance, fire fighting, survival at sea etc.

Giwa affirmed that the vessels would soon hit the for surveillance and patrol pointing out the training of personnel is a clear indication that management is ready for operations.

He noted that the customs will acquire more vessels in the future stressing that more personnel would be trained to man the ships.

He described the training as public and private partnership initiative to empower and promoted human capacity with international best practices.

Speaking earlier, Public Relations Officer ,Western Marine Command, Nigeria Customs Service Mr. Emmanuel Tangwa said the essence of the training was for personnel to take charge of the ocean going vessels in line with IMO conventions.

“This is the last phase of the training and for our officers to be qualified seafarer then they must undergo these rigorous training.

“For the past three weeks,I can tell you that they have been engaged with series of courses that could teach them about the vessels and their capacity, what is obtainable onboard a ship, what IMO is saying about marine operations etc.

He lauded efforts by management of the service for the training of personnel adding that the training would discourage any for casualty at sea following the training.

Tangwa however disclosed that navy are already mobilized to complete the final stage of the ships.

On his part,Instructor from Coastal Maritime Academy on , Inspector Abasi Ubong , said the training surrounds safety measures and the officers are ready and are “good to go”

He advised management of the service to ensure continuity of the mandatory training for personnel.