Customs Boss Assures Excise Traders And FTZ Enterprises In Ogun State Of Strong Support For Business Growth

The Acting Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi has conveyed his dedicated pledge to bolstering the success of stakeholders’ businesses.

This affirmation took place during his visit to the Ogun II Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service in Abeokuta, where he was on an introductory tour.

Interacting with Excise Traders and Free Trade Zone Operators in Ogun State, the Acting CGC emphasized that their activities hold significant importance within the service’s agenda.

According to him “In his words, “I have made it a deliberate policy to put your operations at the cornerstone of our activities”.

“My understanding is that you are critical stakeholders for us, it is through your activities that we can report our own activities, and it is, therefore, in our interest that we do everything to ensure that your companies and businesses prosper”, he added.

“It is not all the time that Customs Officers are overzealous in implementation of the law; most of the time, they keep in their mind the basic objectives behind these entities”, he noted.

“It is the intention of the government through enterprises to boost foreign exchange for Nigeria and its economy, create jobs for Nigerians, and of course, to enhance Nigeria’s economic development, and this is why a number of concessions, a number of waivers have been granted to free zone operators.”

The Customs Boss received congratulations from stakeholders regarding his appointment. Simultaneously, concerns about the operations of Free Trade Zones and factories under excise control were also brought up by the stakeholders.

In reply, the Acting CGC disclosed the establishment of a Committee tasked with tackling these concerns.

“I have set up a committee consisting of representatives of enterprises, The Nigerian Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA) and Oil and Gas Authority, working with representatives from my Office to look into all the areas of concern”.

While appreciating the Ag. CGC, for his visit, the Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Ahmadu Shauibu, highlighted some of the Command’s achievements.

“At our level, since we came in, we have brought in about 18 factories under excise control”, he said.

The Acting Comptroller-General of Customs urged the command’s officers to grasp the significance of their operations and contributions to Nigeria’s economic progress.

He concluded his visit by conducting a tour of the command’s facilities.