THE Nigeria Customs Service, NCS has really come a long way. Established by the British colonial administration in 1891 when it appointed a Briton, Mr.T.A. Wall, as its first director-general for the collection of Inland Revenue in the protectorate. Prior to the advent of colonialism, the job of customs started in form of tax collections. Revenue from the department either under the United African company (UAC) or the recalled that the name department of customs and excise came into being in 1922 when Mr. F.A. Clinch another Briton was appointed the first controller of customs for the federation of Nigeria. Later, towards the end of 1945, it became the customs and excise preventive service under the leadership of Mr.Nicol-also a Briton.
However, shortly after independence in 1960 the federal government adopted the Nigerianisation policy, which brought about the appointment of the first Nigerian chairman of the board/chief executive officer in the person of Mr. Ayodele Diyan in 1964. Since the coming of Nigerians as head of the NCS from the time of Diyan to the present Comptroller-General, Abdullahi Inde Dikko, the department has undergone numerous reorganizations, transformation and restructuring to fine-tune its operations for better performance and according to the dictates of the time.
Furthermore, with the promulgation of Decree No.14 of 11th Jan.1986, the NCS came under the firm control of the Federal ministry of internal affairs. The federal government, however, in the quest of improved efficiency and strategic realignment of its departments, once again in 1992 moved the Department of Customs & Excise from the Ministry of Internal Affairs to the Federal Ministry of Finance and so it has been up till date.
For the sake of repetition, the NCS has really come a long way. It has from its inception been a very important department of government as the largest revenue earner for the country. With Abdullahi Inde Dikko as the 31st head of the department, the NCS has vigorously been intensifying the fight against all forms of all illegal importation of contraband goods imported into the country through land borders, sea and airport. Since assuming office on 16th August 2009 as comptroller-general of the NCS, Abdullahi Inde Dikko has completely left no one in doubt that he is really in charge of affairs of the department as he mapped out solid strategies geared towards he repositioning of better quality service delivery and greater revenue generation to government.
Also, the comptroller-general ad his dedicated members of staff have contributed to carry out its statutory mandates based on new staff morale.
Enhanced capacity building increased revenue generation and deployment of relevant technology to drive its operations. Also, as part of his effort, the task force on anti-smuggling activities, the rapid response squad and the anti-corruption and transparency unit (ACTU) has since inauguration recovered over N12 billion as revenue that would have been lost to importers.
Thus, in any normal and organised society the world-over revenue generation is very critical to its survival and having survived and weathered the storm from its inception till date. It is my sincere hope that NCS fully understand the enormity of the huge responsibilities entrusted upon its shoulders in the continuous discharge of its mandate and with you (Abdullahi Inde Dikko) currently piloting its affairs with every sense of patriotism and industrialized zeal, I believe the growth and development of our great nation is assured.
A man of many parts, Abdullahi Inde Dikko will surely take the department to greater heights. Little wonder, you were appointed the vice-chairman, West & Central Africa of the World Customs Organisations (WCO). A man who has been awarded several honorary degrees by many universities across the country I wish to use this medium to state with all modesty that your elevation to the enviable position as comptroller-general of the NCS since 2009 is a clear testimony to your good track record of leadership qualities. Your drive for revenue generation, commitment to higher economic development of this country can never be in doubt. It is my humble prayers that almighty Allah will continue to bless and crown all your untiring efforts and those of your committed members of staff with resounding success.
• Daniel is a maritime operator
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