[dropcap]T[/dropcap]rue leaders discover and understand who they are and what their purposes are; they influence their environment more than their environment influence them. Even though every human being on this planet has an indication of leadership, most of us do not have the courage to cultivate it but smart ones like Comptroller Agbara Ojobo Micheal do. He can be described as a man who cuts on aura. A diligent man who is always focused on the things he wants and knows exactly how to achieve them.He is an excellent Icon of accountability, a result oriented fellow, who has passion for excellence and known for his dedication to duty.
Compt. Agbara Ojobo Micheal, Controller of The Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, Ogun Area Command who by any matrix, can be called an anti-smuggling czar, has vowed not to relent in the national assignment of ridding the country of contraband items, describing smugglers as economic saboteurs who are bent on circumventing the law. Interestingly. He has an unending catalogue of seizures and arrests made within his zone. The Ogun Customs Command of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), has continued to strengthened its enforcement capacity to ensure that no stone is left unturned in the rage against smuggling in the zone. The Compt. Agbara led proactive team has continued to clampdown on unrepentant smugglers who are working for personal gains, to the detriment of economy . In this interview with Grassroots Publishers at Idiroko Customs Command, he bares his mind on his Command continuous fight against smugglers, and other issues.
Excerpts:
what can you say about the activities and challenges of the command?
This command has a lot of responsibilities. The vast nature of Ogun state is a big challenge; there is water creeks, land and it will interest you to know that Ogun state has seven approved borders where people can legitimately do their business but the smugglers have created over one hundred illegal `borders. So it is a problem because the vastness of the state makes our job very challenging but we are doing everything within our powers to clamp down the activities of these economic saboteurs. We have the support of other sister agencies; we also have joint operations with the Federal Operations Unit of Nigeria Customs Service. Where we are unable to impound contraband goods, they can do so and with that we are recording huge success and I am happy about that and want to repeat that we shall not relent on the war against smuggling in this command to reduce it to the barest minimum. Infact, we have intensified and renewed our anti smuggling efforts and strategies. I must appreciate my dogged officers who have maintained the tempo in combating smuggling activities across the frontier. I must tell, I am proud of my team. I also appeal to the public to give intelligence to the command, in order to enable the NCS to effectively curb smuggling. Smuggling is dangerous to the economy, so in curbing it, we need the help of the public because stemming smuggling is a team effort.
How is the revenue and seizures of the command like since you assumed office?
Since I assumed office as the CAC of this command, so many seizures have been made and so many revenues generated. Just recently in August, Ogun Area Command has raked over N799.6million revenue into the coffers of the Federal Government. The N799.6million generated out of a monthly revenue target of N727.7million, shows excess of over N71million realised in the month under review. The Command also made mind boggling seizures of 33 vehicles; 6,194 bags of foreign rice; 395kegs of vegetable oil; 1,954 pairs of second-hand shoes; seven bales of second-hand clothing, 45 cartons of smuggled poultry products, 340 gallons of petrol (25litres each), 150 cartons of red grape juice and five cartons of ribena currant juice, with total Duty Paid Value, DPV, of N382.2million, within the same month. In the same vein, operatives of this Command swiftly apprehended three suspects in connection with the seizures. The massive seizure of 6,194 bags of smuggled rice in just one month was outstanding in the history of Ogun Customs command. The unpatriotic Nigerians, who are into illicit business of rice smuggling work in synergy with their partners in Republic of Benin to sabotage Nigeria’s economy and so we are taking the issue of rice smuggling personal because we want everyone to support government’s policy in local rice production, in order to enhance food security in the country. Smuggling of rice into Nigeria is not helping our economy. Infact, it is like creating jobs for other countries, to the detriment of our own economy. As such, we are battled-ready and must continue to frustrate illegal activities of rice smugglers to protect our local industries. Also, the Ogun Command seized a brand new Range Rover (Velar), 2018/2019 model, with a Duty Paid Value, DPV, of N64.2million; a seizure which was tagged “the seizure of the month” and the second of such this year. We equally participated in a joint operation, which led to seizure of large quantity of petrol at creeks within Ijoun axis. Seizures of motorcycles, compressed packs of Indian hemp, Tokunbo vehicles, used tyres, gallons of Premium Motor Spirit, gallons of vegetable oil, among others. I must use this opportunity to commend the patriotic role of our sister agencies, traditional rulers, host communities for partnering with us in our quest to effectively perform our statutory functions in compliance with extant government policies.
What are the measures you put in place to curb revenue leakages?
Revenue leakage is one of the things we don’t tolerate. We have devised intelligence technique on how to curb it. The Nigeria customs Service has a system so we operate on system base and when I say that in terms of revenue collection you know we have many aspects of our job here and Ogun command collects revenue on imports. We have recently engaged in renewed efforts against smuggling activities by tightening the land border and all illegal routes, to ensure that our mandate is vigorously pursued. We intelligence technique I just had meeting/sensitization with some miscellaneous traders who import little goods to discuss on ways to check revenue leakage. You know that little drops of water forms a big river so we enlightened them on the need to pay to the federal government and the procedures to go about it.Even those who bring in palm kernel pay their baggage into the government bank account and are issued Baggage receipt. Some of them argue they are importing for the family use but we explain to them the need to pay duty (Baggage Assessment) on those goods and they understood because some of them are ignorant of that fact; the anti-smuggling war we are fighting is to block revenue leakage and protect the society from danger . If we catch any dutiable goods that duty has not been paid for, we seize it.
Sir,knowing fully well that this is a border command where sometimes there are cases of clashes between officers and smugglers and in some cases, officers may sustain injuries or even die in the clash. What is the service doing about officers’s welfare package?
The service is doing alot and I give kudos to the management of Nigeria Customs Service. Every customs officer is insured against injury or death. If a customs officer is injured, the medical bills is paid by the service. On the part of attacking officers, every job has its hazards and that is the price we have to pay in the service to our country but we have to make it loud and clear to every smuggler that Nigeria Customs Service is combat ready to fight any economic saboteur because rule of engagement of the service has given officers power to shoot if their life is in danger. Also, a lot of incentives are given to officers who are gallant. Some have been given special promotion for their commitment and handwork. In terms of improvement on the salaries, the management is doing everything possible to improve that and they are not taking it for granted. I must use this opportunity to thank the CGC, Col. Hammed Ali (rtd) for his fatherly love and assistance to us in terms of logistics, commendations, and encouragement. He is truly a leader and under his leadership, Nigeria Customs Service has been drastically reformed and transformed for good within a short period of time. “All these achievements would not have been actualised without the gallant efforts of my proactive officers and the existing synergy with other units like the Customs Intelligence Unit, Federal Operations Unit and the CGC’s strike force. We will continue to draw on the robust intelligence gathering strategy on border security and ensuring a secure environment for legitimate business transactions.
My proactive team would sustain the tempo and increase it by acquiring more working tools to boost effectiveness. Myexperience in Customs has shown that a well equipped and motivated Customs officer can deal decisively with smugglers and smoke them out of their illicit business.
What legacy would you like to leave?
I want to be remembered for commitment and handwork. Because the person who sent me here knows I can deliver, I wouldn’t want to disappoint him. So I am working hard to live up to that expectation and by the grace of God, I will achieve it.
By: Grassroots Publishers
