[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 Odibu Christopher Ogar 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.
Compt. Odibu, Controller of Oyo/Osun Customs Command, of the Nigeria Customs Service, 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 Oyo/ Osun 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. Odibu led proactive team has continued to clampdown on unrepentant smugglers who are working for personal gains, to the detriment of our economy.
Comptroller Odibu Christopher Ogar hails from Cross River State of Nigeria. He obtained B.A. (Hons) in History from the University of Calabar.He joined the Nigeria Customs Service in 1987 as an Assistant Superintendent I of Customs. Since then, he has worked mainly in the Enforcement Unit, Revenue Unit and the Customs Intelligence Unit respectively.In the course of his working career, he has attended various professional courses that have boosted his experience as a seasoned Customs Officer. Sequel to his present posting, Comptroller Odibu was the Comptroller, Human Resources Department Headquarters, Abuja in 2016 before he was transferred to Ikorodu Lighter Terminal Area Command in 2017.
In his maiden address to journalists in Ibadan, Oyo State, when he took over from the immediate past CAC, Comptroller Chikan Elisha David (now the Assistant Comptroller General (Human Resources and Development at the Customs Command Headquarters), he declared pointedly that “the Nigeria Customs service zero tolerance for smuggling is unalterable”, stressing that “the service will do everything in its capacity to fight it and that the Command under his watch will continue to deal decisively with the economic saboteurs and work for the security and well being of the people of Nigeria,”;
It was on records that barely two weeks of his assumption of duty, Comptroller Odibu paraded multi-million-naira seizures by his Command.The Oyo/Osun Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) also intercepted contraband with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N50.63 million between April and June. The seized items included 13 used vehicles with total DPV of N21.14 million and 1,669 50kg bags of rice with DPV of N14.75 million. The command also intercepted 44 kegs of vegetable oil with DPV of N754, 469 while the DPV for seized 38 bales of second-hand clothes amounted to N5.83 million, (15) 50kg bags of sugar with DPV of N490,000 and 13 means of conveyance vehicle with DPV of N7. 66 million.The revenue drive of the command has continued to rise under Compt. Odibu’s watch as the Command generated N9. 436 billion between January and May, compared to revenue generated same period last year was N7. 22 billion;showing a clear increase with the revenue generated this year.
“All these achievements would not have been actualised without the gallant efforts of Compt. Odibu and his proactive officers and the existing synergy with other units like the Customs Intelligence Unit, Federal Operations Unit and the CGC’s strike force.”Compt. Odibu will continue to draw on the robust intelligence gathering strategy on border security and ensuring a secure environment for legitimate business transactions.
Compt. Odibu, the anti-smuggling czar stated that his proactive team would sustain the tempo and increase it by acquiring more working tools to boost effectiveness.His experience 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.
By: Grassrots Publishers