ACG SHUAIBU REMINISCES HIS SOJOURN IN CUSTOMS; EULOGIZES CGC ON CHOICE OF D/COMPT AFENI AS CAC IDIROKO COMMAND
Immediate past Assistant Comptroller General (ACG) Enforcement, Investigation & Inspections (E,I& I), ACG Ahmadu Bello Shuaibu has eulogized the Comptroller General, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, PhD, for identifying and appointing Deputy Comptroller O.O Afeni as the Customs Area Controller for Ogun 1 Command, Idiroko.
Saying the Comptroller General has the knack for bringing up the best brains to superintendent over sensitive commands at any point in time, he described Afeni as ‘a round peg in a round hole’
‘Like you know, we did it together; nothing is hidden from you.
He was a major force when I was the Co-ordinator of the Comptroller General’s Strike Force’
He was also with me while I headed the Federal Operations Unit (FOU) zone B, Kaduna.
Therefore, he knows anti-smuggling operations inside-out’
ACG Shuaibu stated that the Afeni that he associated with, knows the anti-smuggling rules and has them in his fingertips.
The Anti-smuggling Czar recalled the overriding policy he inculcated in his workforce when he was on board, which he noted was anchored on the fact that ‘no level of anti-smuggling enforcement can justify losing an officer or any life.
Shuaibu who was also the Area Controller of the Idiroko Command at a time maintained that there is no need to waste anyone’s life in the process of enforcing anti-smuggling operations, noting that the success of any anti-smuggling operations is hinged on this consideration of zero-free casualty.
His modus operandi is ‘let the boys-(okada rice smugglers) bring in the rice to their sponsors’ warehouses, and you go later to evacuate them under the cover of the night.
Stressing that there is no need to shoot them; he added that these boys smoke cannabis sativa, ferry rice for their sponsors. And what we should do is to monitor them and go later to carry those consignments.
ACG Shuaibu however, pointed out that the red line is drugs or arms smuggling, noting that there must be concerted efforts to ensure zero-tolerance on smuggling of those two dangerous items.
According to him, the introduction of Afeni who was his Special Assistant to head the Idiroko command by the Comptroller General remains a bold step that will take him to the Lagos hub where he disclosed that he knows all the inside dealings in most of the terminals, an experience garnered when they were all in the CG’s Strike force for the Lagos zone.
Speaking on his last responsibility as the ACG in charge of Enforcement and how he is currently enjoying his retirement, ACG Shuaibu said he believes in using any position he occupies to serve humanity.
According to him, he headed a Special Committee as ACG to look into the circumstances surrounding the sacking or indefinite suspension of some officers.
Within the time he chaired the committee, at least 53 officers were recalled or their sack converted to retirement, after the approval of the Comptroller General.
Shuaibu feels fulfilled and ‘out of bond age’ having retired with all the pecks of the rank. ‘I played my role very well, guided my actions with the help of God’ He thanked the Comptroller General for steering the Service on the path of growth.