Customs Area Controller of Badagry/ Seme Border Command of the Nigeria Customs Service, Comptroller Dera Nnadi mni, since his assumption of office in January 2023, has achieved record breaking successes that have not only thrown him into the spotlight as a diligent officer with a resolve to carry out his duties efficiently, but it has brought about a sure and steady productive growth for the nation’s economy through means he has set in place that office.
Nnadi’s quick action process was kick started with a record of raking in one hundred and thirty million naira (N 130 million) in revenue collection in January, 2023.
The revenue generation through his area of command, has been on a steady increase with profiles of N 155 million, N 147 million and N 211 million in the months of March, April and May respectively.
For one sector of the economy, this is a high rating and this could be replicated across several agencies as the country needs every possible way to build back from its huge debt profile and re -inject such monies back into the economy for infrastructural development and economic relief for citizens.
Comptroller Nnadi said upon discovery of the slackened and weak system of revenue collection at the Seme border, he made investigations to check why this situation was in place and had become acceptable. This was due to the functional operations of three licensed Customs agents out of eighteen because of the border closure on the orders of past president Muhammadu Buhari. The restoration of agents licences and increasing their number to twenty seven, resulted in the easement of the situation and a rapid spike into agents getting back in business, and thus creating the conducive atmosphere for free, fair and easy trade trade.
The other improvements he made, were the education of Customs agents on the import/ export rules and guidelines, the reduction of the nuisance of multiple checkpoints, fostering inter community border relations, social responsibility of the command to border communities through access to the Customs Command clinic and having a functional working relationship with host community leaders. Also, in a short spate of time, he had the mantle of becoming the chairman of the joint border post task force with other security agencies. The approval of the Federal Ministry Of Finance on the exportation of imported goods, was also worked on by him to enable the approval to be domiciled to his command, thus cutting off the stress and time of lengthy journeys to Abuja. This has now become safer and less time consuming.
The major challenge he said exists is the road condition as it has been a nightmare for Customs officers, road users and freight forwarders on the ECOWAS corridor. He hailed the government for the current road reconstruction on the axis.
Controller Dera Nnadi mni has since been able to record numerous clamp down and arrests of smugglers, interception of contraband goods, illicit drugs, money laundering operations and various economic crimes.
Under his command, there is a well equipped CPC fitted with a functional NICIS, all in anticipation of a possible review of the ban on vehicle imports through the border.
There is also a large space that can well accommodate about a million vehicles and trucks. Also, a privately owned bonded terminal has been commissioned at the border. The terminal had been built for a while but was not functional as a result of the failure to procure a Customs license but he was able to get this licence/ permit from the authorities in Abuja.
Comptroller Dera Nnadi mni also acknowledged that his predecessor laid a firm foundation for him to be enabled to work on and create a viable environment for business and trade.
