... Organizes Workshop to Equip Team
ZAINAB JUNAID
In determined effort to effectively combat smuggling especially that of petroleum products diverted to neighbouring countries, the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (CGC) Adewale Adeniyi, on Thursday, 22 May 2024, in Abuja, has inaugurated workshop for a newly formed tactical team, Operation Whirlwind.
Premised on the need to significantly impact the Nigerian economy and also support political will at the highest level, CGC Adeniyi emphasised that the new operation will be protecting the nation’s economy from the adverse effects of smuggling petroleum products.
CGC Adewale, according to a statement signed by CSC Abdullahi Maiwada, National Public Relations, clarified that the new team is an intelligence-driven operation that will support the political will at the highest level and not a task force or setting up of checkpoints.
He stressed that the Service has over the years been rebuilt to an enviable height, with increasing revenue and increased targets but there is need to significantly impact the Nigerian economy, hence the creation of the Special Operation.
Adeniyi equally stressed the need for collaboration and unity among the officers, saying, “You were selected because you can do the job. Your coordinator’s record is impeccable, and your assignment can’t succeed without you working as a team. You are to complement the existing structure. You are not going as competitors; you are going to fight people sabotaging our efforts.
“The Service must do better and the Economic saboteurs must be made to face Justice. Dedication and loyalty must not be compromised. There will be serious consequences against whoever acts against this mission. There is zero tolerance for sabotage,” he stated.
The statement read further that “The workshop, held at the Nigeria Customs Command and Staff College (NCCSC), is designed to equip the Operation Whirlwind team with the skills and knowledge necessary to effectively curb smuggling, particularly of petroleum products diverted to neighbouring countries.
“The Director of Legal Services is scheduled to educate the team on the proper procedures for filing seizures, ensuring that all legal aspects of their operations are handled correctly.
“The inauguration of Operation Whirlwind marks a significant step in Nigeria’s fight against smuggling and economic sabotage. As the team prepares to embark on their mission, the Comptroller-General of Customs asserts that the expectation is clear: to protect Nigeria’s economic interests with unwavering dedication and integrity”.
