*Hails Him for Suspending 4% FOB on Imports
*Ask for More Power, Political Support for NCS to Deliver on Mandate
There were accolades and eulogies on the Comptroller General, Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Alhaji Bashir Adewale Adeniyi as he was formally bestowed with the “Iconic Maritime Personality of the Year Award 2024” by Nigerian Maritime Journalists in Lagos.
Besides hailing Adeniyi for the strides NCS has made since he took the mantle of leadership over a year ago, he was specifically lauded for convincing the Federal Government to suspend the implementation of the 4% Free-on-Board (FOB) value on imports into the country.
The maritime journalists and other stakeholders in the maritime industry who gathered at the venue of the investiture of Adeniyi were full of praise for the high amount of revenue NCS has generated since he was appointed the Comptroller General of Customs (CGC) by President Bola Tinubu.
Adeniyi, a holder of the national honour, Member of the Federal Republic (MFR) was commended for NCS feats in anti-smuggling which has resulted in the seizures of many items enumerated in the Import Prohibition List (IPL) and the Exports Prohibition List (EPL) enunciated by the Federal Government based on its fiscal policies and managed by the NCS.
The Customs Chief was also commended for results the NCS has recorded in the last two years in the area of trade facilitation.
The journalists under the auspices of the Nigerian Maritime Journalists and the stakeholders stated this at Airport Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos Thursday when Adeniyi was formally presented with the award.
Speaking as the Chairman of the occasion, a maritime icon and former National President, Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Prince Olayiwola Shittu said the suspension of the 4% FOB value on imports into the country was a relief to importers and licensed customs agents across the country.
Describing Adeniyi as the CG of Customs as well as the CG of licensed customs agents and freight forwarders in the country, Shittu noted that the recipient of the award was instrumental to his success when he was the National President of ANLCA as he used to guide him with valuable advice.
Shittu who is also the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Skellas Group and a respected voice in the maritime industry used the occasion to congratulate Adeniyi for what he called “a well-deserved award” coming from maritime journalists, the watchdogs of the maritime sector of the economy.
In his remarks, the Chairman, Customs Consultative Council (CCC), Aare Hakeem Olanrewaju, eulogized the sterling qualities of Adeniyi and congratulated him for being celebrated by the maritime press with the award of “Iconic Maritime Personality of the Year 2024”.
Olanrewaju who was the pioneer Vice Chairman, Governing Council, Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) and later, its Chairman called the attention of licensed customs agents to the fact that things have changed and enjoined his colleagues in the freight forwarding business to embrace attitudinal change.
On his part, the Vice President, ANLCA, Prince Olusegun Oduntan commended Adeniyi for being a grassroots leader who listens to the people.
He explained that this was an attitude that has brought a positive change in the maritime industry just as he also promised that his association will continue to partner with NCS under his leadership.
The National President, Africa Association of Professional Freight Forwarders and Logistics of Nigeria (APFFLON), Otunba Frank Ogunojemite described the CGC as a downright good man and a natural leader.
He stated that the NCS boss was his class captain in the university and later the President of his department in the school.
According to him, Adeniyi is a sports enthusiast who later became the leader of Man ‘o’ War. He is extremely patriotic and very humble. He has been keeping his old friends without minding his present status as the number one Customs officer.
Speaking on behalf of the maritime journalists, Mr. Oke Ibeke commended the NCS boss for his superlative performance which has changed the narratives in Customs administration.
Ibeke commended the CGC for delivering on his mandate in areas of revenue collection, anti-smuggling activities, trade facilitation, among other achievements.
According to him, this was the first time journalists from various media houses covering the sector would agree jointly to honour a chief executive officer of an agency. The unusual agreement was not for sycophancy but to give honour to a man who is a game changer.
He stated that President Tinubu must have seen in Adeniyi special qualities of accomplished administrator before making him the CGC, adding that he has not disappointed the President for once.
He averred that NCS is key to the economic development of any nation just as he called on the Federal Government to give the service more power and political support to enable it delivers better on its mandate in the yeas ahead.
In his vote of thanks, the Secretary, Award Planning Committee, Mr. Innocent Orok said the need for the Nigerian maritime media practitioners to honour Adeniyi was a unanimous decision by all maritime journalists covering the maritime beat, cutting across print, electronic and online media, led by the different beat associations.
These include the Maritime Reporters Association of Nigeria (MARAN), League of Maritime Editors (LOME), Association of Maritime Journalists of Nigeria (AMJON), Maritime Journalists Association of Nigeria (MAJAN), Shipping Correspondents Association of Nigeria (SCAN), Online Maritime Media Association of Nigeria (OMMAN) and Congress of Nigerian Maritime Media Practitioners (CONMMEP), as well as those who do not belong to any of the associations.
