D/COMPT FAROUK NADANIYA: COVERING A HUGE MILEAGE AT THE FOU ‘C’ OWERRI IN JUST 2 WEEKS
By Timothy Paul Okorocha
A fresh air at the Federal Operations Unit (FOU) zone ‘C’ in Owerri aptly captures what we are about to see in the weeks and months ahead. It is a season of infrastructure renewal at one of the best customs complexes built few years ago , whose ecosystem is lacking the requisite comfort for the workforce.
A new face has been promised and the new man on the saddle has ‘set out at dawn’ to accomplish the desires and needs of the Unit which is in charge of at least eleven states in the south-south as well as the south east.
Farouk Nadaniya is a no-nonsense officer; from his six feet stature to his inner recesses, he comes across as honest, transparent, disciplined and a loyal officer of note, who means well for the Service.
Whatever is his disposition in leadership, he stated that it must be justiciable to the officers , to the stakeholders and to sister agencies. He has commenced well with a novel visit aimed at forming the required synergy.
In just three weeks, he has extended hands of fellowship to Area Controllers in the zone. He was a guest to the Zone ‘C’ headquarters in Port Harcourt, to the Area 1 command also in Port Harcourt, the Area 2 Command in Onne as well as the Eastern Marine Command.
Describing the visit as part of efforts to enhance operational coordination and effective service delivery, he noted that the opportunity to establish closer working relationship with the Area Controllers and their officers will engender the expected achievement of the mandates given to them by the Comptroller General, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, PhD.
Marshaling out the strategies towards making the Unit and their officers entire environment more conductive to work, Nadaniya has spoken of erecting an enduring quarter guard at the Unit in the next few days, with a new modern gate to fit the huge complex.
The FOU ‘C’ Customs House will also wear a new look, as workers have been mobilized to commence repainting of the entire complex. The new Controller stated that welfare of the officers will be paramount, and will take centre stage, with the upgrading of the Unit’s canteen to be able to serve the needs of his officers and men.
He has also enlisted the service of a builder to erect a Christian chapel at the Unit, while the mosque will also be refurbished. The new Controller who has traversed several commands in his tour of duty , said he will carry out his mandates with the discipline it requires, while facilitating genuine trade, and flagging the import of prohibited products within his jurisdiction.
To show a man who is in a hurry to make a positive difference, he has embarked on courtesy visits yesterday to the IMO state commissioner of police, the state Director of the State security service (DSS) as well as to the Head of the Civil Defence.
No doubt, the Unit is gathering momentum to recalibrate the operations of the service; collaborate with sister agencies, as well as engage stakeholders for envisaged seamless operations.
Next week, Deputy Comptroller Nadaniya will pay a visit to other military formations in the zone to announce his arrival, get them acquainted with the operations of the service and the need to collaborate with them to achieve national security through its enforcement operations against economic saboteurs.