WHILE DOFFING HIS HAT FOR CG ADENIYI FOR RETOOLING THE SERVICE; COMPT BALOGUN GIVES AN INSIGHT INTO FACTORS MILITATING AGAINST REVENUE GENERATION & ANTI-SMUGGLING OPERATIONS
The Controller of the Federal Operations Unit (FOU) zone C in Owerri, Comptroller BA Balogun has said that the coming of the Comptroller General, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, PhD, MFR, has brought with it unprecedented development as well as massive retooling of the service.
He deposed that the Adeniyi administration has witnessed a huge turnaround in all the core mandates of the government agency.
While contributing his views and experience, spanning more than three decades in the service, in a book ‘Customs Operational Revolution and Maritime development under President Tinubu’, Balogun stressed;
‘The Comptroller General and the management have remained steadfast in ensuring that the Unit is well fortified in terms of logistics to seamlessly carry out its constitutional mandates’ He described the Comptroller General as a global icon in digital customs operations.
Under his watch, the Controller marshaled out some of the factors militating against revenue generation and anti-smuggling operations in the zone.
From the stand point of a watchdog and enforcement officer, he highlighted the factors below as some of the cogs in the wheel of revenue generation.
They are but not limited to;
a, Wrong Classification
b, Transfer of Value
c, Wrong Declaration
d, False Documentation
e, Under Valuation of goods
f, Non compliance to Procedures
g, Concealment
h, Exchange Rate Fluctuations
I, Frequent Policy Changes can complicate Customs Valuation and Duty Calculation
j, Concessions to Certain importers ( e.g waivers on Certain items)
k, Inadequate Modern Technologies
l, Corruption and Administrative Inefficiencies
m, Insecurity
n, Low Volume of Trade Transactions
o, Overemphasis on Trade Facilitation
p, Resistance from smugglers and hired thugs
q, Inadequate Manpower and Logistics
Balogun also disclosed that his efforts at combating smuggling in the eleven states that make up the Unit include;
a, Regular Management Meetings and review of operational methodologies
b, Periodic Trainings and Retraining of personnel
c, Adoption of Reward Mechanism to encourage excellence
d, Continuous Community and Stakeholders Engagement
e, Sensitisation Campaigns
f, Disciplinary action against erring officers and men
g, Synergy and Collaboration with sister security agencies ( Police, Army, NDLEA, NAFDAC etc
h, Ensuring Periodic and proper servicing of Arms
On How easy or difficult it is to run FOU, Zone C, he said it is an interesting question. ‘As a trained Customs officer, there is no assigned responsibility that is completely easy as well as difficult. The Trainings and experiences garnered over the years, when properly deployed, make the difference. So yes, it has been easy to the glory of God.’
An insight into the innovations since he came on board include but not limited to the following;
I, Renovation of the Customs Barracks to the admiration of officers and men
II, Installation of Solar Street Lights in the Zone (C) Customs Office and CAC House
III, Installation of Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) Cameras for security purposes in the Zone (C) Customs Office and CAC house.
IV, Renovation of Office Block
V, Work to begin soon on the construction of a permanent Government Warehouse opposite the Zone (C) Customs Office
VI, Planned construction work of a befitting gate to the Zone (C) Customs Office with security post that will be screening visitors in and out
After his stint in the zone, he would like to be remembered for:
— Drastically stemming the tide of smuggling
— achieving a robust synergy and collaboration with sister agencies
— Fostering peaceful co- existence with communities and Stakeholders
— making spectacular unprecedented seizures
— contributing in improving on Revenue Profile of the zone
— ensuring more importers comply with import Procedures.