Customs Reforms: Lawal, Yari, Adeniyi Task Officers On Compliance

Zamfara State governor, Dr Dauda Lawal, the comptroller-general of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Bashir Adeniyi and Senator Abdulaziz Yari have called on customs officers and other stakeholders to uphold the Customs Act 2023 to boost the national economy.

They spoke yesterday in Abuja during the public presentation and launch of the book: “Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023: Historical Context, Service Reforms and Predicament of Application.”

The event held at the Ahmed Makarfi Hall of the Nigeria Customs Service Command and Staff College, Gwagwalada, was authored by retired customs comptroller, Abdullahi Bello Gusau.

Adeniyi, who served as the chief host, said, “The true brilliance of the book lies in its willingness to tackle the ‘predicament of application,’ which is by ‘transitioning from a 65-year-old legal framework to a cutting-edge statutory regime in a complex journey.”

The special guest of honour, Governor Lawal, represented by the MD/CEO of Acacia African Commodity Exchange, Alhaji Usman Balarabe, congratulated the author for documenting his decades-long experiences.

In his remarks, the chairman of the occasion, former national security adviser (NSA), Gen. Aliyu Muhammed Gusau (rtd), said the book would serve as a rallying point for Customs officers, professionals and other stakeholders for years to come.

Represented by the Danmasanin Gusau, Alhaji Shehu Umar Sambo, he commended the publisher for making Customs and Zamfara State proud. He urged other officers to emulate the author in writing books that would contribute to the body of knowledge.

The Chief Launcher, Senator Yari, said the book launch is a testimony to the author’s distinguished career in the Nigeria Customs Service.

Represented by former Zamfara State Governor Mahmud Aliyu Shinkafi, Mr Yari said the presence of people from Katsina, Sokoto, Kebbi, Zamfara, Taraba, Abuja, Kano, and Kaduna states at the event further burnished the author’s image as a credentialed retired officer.

The Sultan of Sokoto was represented at the event by the Sarkin Burmin Jabo, Alhaji Aliyu Garba. The Commandant of the Nigeria Customs Command and Staff College, Gwagwalada, ACG Dow Gaura, reviewed the book.