The newly appointed Acting Controller, Western Marine Command, Deputy Comptroller Thomas Jonah, has pledged to intensify surveillance and strengthen inter-agency collaboration along Lagos-Ogun waterways.
Jonah said western marine command is a hotspot for smuggling via creeks and waterways, stressing that information and intelligence sharing remained central to his operational strategy.
The controller who spoke on Tuesday made the disclosure, after addressing officers and men of the command in Lagos.
He said the command would continued working in synergy with sister agencies, including the Nigerian Navy and Marine Police, to effectively combat waterways smuggling through close collaboration.
He said his command would engage other security agencies and stakeholders to ensure smuggling on waterways was curtailed while legitimate economic activities thrive unhindered.
Jonah said trade facilitation remained a core function of the Nigeria Customs Service, noting that enforcement against smuggling does not hinder legitimate trade.
He explained that the World Customs Organisation emphasised on safe trade flow, adding that control measures were necessary to ensure safety in the supply chain.
He assured legitimate operators that customs has no issues with compliant traders, saying that only those engaged in illegal and illegitimate activities would be stopped or arrested.
He urged operators to comply strictly with extant customs and maritime laws, assuring that compliant traders would receive full support to succeed in their businesses.
On officers’ welfare and community partnership, Jonah said he would build on the Comptroller-General’s welfare initiatives, including health checks and sports facilities to boost fitness and morale.
He said the command would visit riverine community leaders and border kings from next week to deepen collaboration, pledging to improve on achievements of his predecessor.
The western marine command controller, also charged officers and men to embrace teamwork, discipline and respect for constituted authorities for operational success.
Jonah, addressing officers at the command headquarters in Lagos, said no officer can succeed in isolation, stressing that perfection in service can only be achieved through collective effort and unity of purpose.
He said customs is a regimented organisation anchored on discipline, warning officers to respect superior officers and follow established channels, rather than bypassing immediate supervisors to report issues directly to the controller.
He described officers in charge as leaders at their respective levels who must demonstrate problem-solving skills, noting that leadership required solving problems and leaving positive marks in assigned spaces.
He emphasised officers welfare, health consciousness, work-life balance and reputation management.
Jonah urged officers to maintained executive presence, decent dressing, courage when interfacing with sister agencies, and emulate learning culture.
(vitalnewsngngr.com)
