Kano State, Nigeria – The Acting Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR, has issued a stern call to the newly recruited officers to uphold professionalism in the handling of firearms as they conclude their regimental training. This directive was given during the Passing Out Parade (POP) ceremony for 956 General Duty Junior Personnel, who successfully completed Basic Course 1/2023 at Customs Training College, Goron Dutse, Kano State.
Addressing the new officers during the ceremony held on Thursday, September 21, 2023, the Acting CGC congratulated them on their accomplishment and underscored the importance of their role as ambassadors of the Nigerian Customs Service. He urged them to prioritize responsible and professional weapon handling while avoiding any misuse of firearms. He emphasized that incidents of unnecessary shootings of innocent civilians must become a thing of the past.
“The era of filing rampant cases of the shooting of innocent Nigerians has passed,” stated the Acting CGC. “Treat everyone with absolute respect and fairness.”
Adeniyi further emphasized the significance of maintaining high standards in appearance, conduct, and integrity as customs officers. He stressed the duty of revenue generation and the fight against smuggling, emphasizing that the recruits should actively apply what they have learned to counter illegal activities effectively.
Adeniyi acknowledged the vital role of technology in modern customs operations and encouraged the officers to embrace and leverage technological advancements to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the Nigerian Customs Service.
Speaking to the press, Adeniyi called on Nigerians to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s investment policies, expressing hope that these policies would contribute to ending economic sabotage and smuggling in the country. He urged all patriotic Nigerians to join the fight against smuggling, emphasizing that he has been actively engaging with border communities to foster collaborative efforts.
The Commandant of the Customs Training College, Comptroller Rasheed Adahunse, praised the 2023 General Duty Staff for their discipline, commitment, and resilience during their training. He highlighted the extensive curriculum, which covered areas such as enforcement, revenue, valuation, export and import procedures, and information and communication technology (ICT), among others. Adahunse commended the trainers and the graduates for their dedication and excellent achievement in mastering drills and academic activities within a relatively short period of six months.
The POP ceremony was attended by senior customs officials and marked a significant milestone in the careers of the newly trained officers who are poised to contribute to the customs service’s mission and objectives with professionalism and dedication.
