KOREDE FOGO
The Eastern Marine Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), on Tuesday, charged officers of the command on need to ensure maintenance of the command’s craft at all time.
In a press statement by the command’s public relations officer, Emmanuel Tangwa, said during the visit to the Onne station of the command, the Customs Area Controller, Compt Chika Dim, told the officers that the service has spent so much in purchasing the gun boats and care must be given to it by the officers.
The PRO stated, “the visit began with a meeting with officers at the Onne Outstation. Compt. Chika Dim, addressed the officers and discussed the importance of the role in securing the maritime domain. He also checked the conditions of their gun boat and emphasized the need for proper maintenance to ensure optional performance.
“He told the officers that the service has spent much in purchasing these gun boats and care must be given to it. The officers were also reminded of the services’ standard operating procedures (SOP) and the importance of adhering to them,” Tangwa stated.
Tangwa further stated that the Customs boss in continuation of his familiarization visit also met with the commanding officer of the Nigeria Navy forward Operating Base at Ibaka in the Oron.
The visit, according to Tangwa in the statement made available to newsmen, was to discuss ways to deepen collaboration in the marine domain in the Ibaka area.
“The Eastern Marine Command of the Nigeria Customs Service is responsible for overseeing Marine-related Customs activities in the South-South region of Nigeria. To ensure effective operations and collaboration, Compt. CC DIM embarked on a familiarization working visit to outstations in the Onne, Akwa-Ibom and Calabar areas.
“The purpose of the visit was to meet with officers, check the conditions of the Nigeria Customs Service gun boats, discuss collaboration with other agencies and engage with stakeholders on key issues affecting the maritime domain in his Area of Responsibility (AOR).”
“The visit began with a meeting with officers at the Onne Outstation. Compt. CC DIM addressed the officers and discussed the importance of the role in securing the maritime domain. He also checked the conditions of their gun boat and emphasized the need for proper maintenance to ensure optional performance.”
“He told the officers that the service has spent much in purchasing these gun boats and care must be given to it. The officers were also reminded of the services’ standard operating procedures (SOP) and the importance of adhering to them.”
“Later same day, Comptroller CC DIM had a stopover at the CAC Onne Area 2 Command on his way to Oron outstation. Comptroller M Babandede was happy receiving his brother Comptroller to his Command. They discussed on how Area 2 Command could be of help to Eastern Marine Command, thus deepening the collaboration between the two commands.
“Comptroller Dim in continuation of his familiarization working visit met with the commanding officer of the Nigeria Navy forward Operating Base at Ibaka in the Oron axis of Akwa Ibom State, captain U Aneke.”
“The purpose of the meeting was to discuss ways to deepen collaboration in the marine domain in the Ibaka area. The commanding officer and his officers were commended for their efforts in securing the area and preventing illegal activities. The CAC emphasized the need for continuous collaboration to ensure safe and efficient maritime environment.”
Tangwa also disclosed that Compt. Dim visited the Akwa Ibom Free Trade Zone, where he interacted with him counterpart on improved collaboration.
“The next stop of his tour was his visit to Comptroller CG Ogbonna of Akwa Ibom, FTZ Calabar in his office. The purpose of the visit was to discuss how the presence of the Eastern Marine Command can be felt in the Calabar area.
“The two Comptrollers discussed ways to improve collaboration and ensure effective operations in the region. At the Calabar EMC Jetty, the CAC went round the premises to examine the state of things which was not befitting for Customs Operations.”
“In conclusion, the familiarization working visit of the CAC EMC to Onne Outstation, Area 2 command Onne, Nigerian Navy FOB Ibaka, the stakeholder Engagement and the visit to Akwa Ibom FTZ Calabar Command was a success.
“The visits provided an opportunity for the Comptroller to meet with officers, assess the conditions of Customs gun boats docked at Onne and at Marine Police Jetty in Oron and discuss collaboration with other agencies.
” The stakeholder engagement meeting and the visit to comptroller CG OGBONNA in Calabar also contributed to the overall objective of strengthening partnership in the maritime domain of the South-South water ways. Comptroller CC DIM reiterated one of Comptroller Generals’ cardinal focus which is collaboration and emphasized the importance of working together to secure Nigeria’s Maritime environment,” Tangwa stated.