Comptroller Ejibunu taking journalist round to see some seized cars and right behind him is Comptroller Oladeji.
Story by Dili Utomi.
The change in baton currently sweeping through many Commands and Units of the Nigeria Customs Service has reached the Federal Operations Unit, Zone ‘A’ where a new Customs Area Controller, Comptroller
IK Oladeji has been appointed to replace the redeployed Comptroller HK Ejibunu who moves to the National Headquarters of the Service.
It was a beehive of activities at the premises of the Unit at Ikeja Lagos where the event also afforded the outgoing CAC the opportunity to detail the performance of the Unit over the past two and half years of his headship of the Unit.
The event started with Comptroller Ejibunu leading officers and journalists to see the various items of seizure placed within the premises and at the various warehouses around the Unit’s area before eventually settling in to the conference hall to detail their performance and to carry out the hand over ceremony as well as meeting the Officers, Staff and Stakeholders for the last time as the head of the FOU Zone ‘A’.
Comptroller Ejibunu said “My appreciation also goes to the management, officers and men of this Unit for their untiring support, dedication, gallantry and uncompromising posture in the fight against smuggling and revenue recovery. You worked both day and night to ensure that the successes we recorded were achieved. Unfortunately, while on legitimate duties within Zone’s area of operations, eight (8) officers sustained different degrees of injuries while five (5) lost their lives in the line of duty; may their souls rest in peace through the mercy of God (amen)”.
A group photograph with journalists after the hand over.
His words “It is appropriate at this time to once again thank members of the press for being true allies by informing and updating the public about the activities of this Unit. My journey of leadership of the Unit that commenced on the 10th September, 2021 till date was a bit challenging but above all, very successful. A part of the challenges encountered when I assumed duty newly was the continued rate of suspected smugglers attacks on officers while on duty. To mitigate such levels of attacks, the Unit embarked on sensitisation programmes and courtesy visits to traditional rulers of border communities which yielded a drastic reduction in the levels of deadly confrontations and attacks”.
Comptroller Oladeji left and Comptroller Ejibunu right.
The records of the Unit’s performance according Comptroller Ejibunu are “From the 10th September 2021 till date, a total of 3,189 seizures were recorded with a duty paid value of Thirty-five Billion, Nine Hundred and Eight Million, Three Hundred and Thirty-One Thousand, Four Hundred and Twelve Naira Only ( ₦35,908,331,412.00) and a sum of three hundred and eighty-six (386) suspects arrested in connection with some of the seizures. While twenty-two (22) people were convicted for committing different Customs offences.
Prominent among the seizures but not limited to the following are: –
222,285 X 50kg bags of foreign parboiled rice (370 Trailer loads)
1,140,864 Litres of premium motor spirit (33 Tankers)
16,432.30kg of Indian Hemp
26,303 pieces of used pneumatic tyres
11,175 Bales of used clothes
751x 70mm of live cartridges
12,912 cartons of foreign frozen poultry products
5,033 pieces of donkey skin
450 x 106kg drums of carbide
233 cartons x 225mg of tramadol
7,640 cartons of expired and unapproved drugs
303 Units of foreign used vehicles
104 Haojue motorcycles
The Unit recovered the sum of Two Billion, Two Hundred and Fifty-Six Million, Five Hundred and Fourty-Nine Thousand, Two Hundred and Thirty-Two Naira, Fourty-Eight Kobo N2,256,549,232.48 through the issuance of demand notices (D/N) due to transfer of value and wrong classification”.
The ceremonial hand over of flag with Compt. Ejibunu left and Compt. Oladeji right.
After the press briefing on the performance of the Unit, the hand over proper took place and Comptroller Ejibunu noted “I handed over the mantle of leadership of the CGC Strike Force at Headquarters, Abuja to Comptroller Oladeji and it gladens my heart to also hand over the mantle of leadership of the FOU A to the man who was also my squad mate way back in 1991. Please cooperate with him and give him the very best of your support”. At hand over, he added “On behalf of the president and the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, I Comptroller HK Ejibunu hearby hand over the mantle of leadership to Comptroller IK Oladeji”
A group photograph with officers at the Unit after the hand over.
The incoming CAC, Comptroller Oladeji says that he is happy to be in a place where about 70% of the Officers had served with him previously. He quiped “Please don’t take my heart to be as hard as my face, I need the support and cooperation of everybody and I shall run an open door policy and will perform without fear or favour”.
Some seized rice at the warehouse
The outgoing CAC had earlier paid tributes to all who had helped him to succeed at the position and at the top of those he recognised is the Comptroller General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, traditional rulers, sister agencies as well as members of the press.
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