The new Customs Area Controller for Edo and Delta States, Dooyum Dominic Ortsen, with stakeholders ...on Tuesday
The new Customs Area Controller for Edo/Delta Area Command, Dooyum Dominic Ortsen, on Tuesday called for sustained collaboration and trust from stakeholders to achieve the Command’s N209 billion revenue target for the year, noting that “the target requires shared responsibility”.
He also unveiled a strategic blueprint focused on consolidation, collaboration, and innovation to achieve the revenue target for the year.
He made the call at his maiden stakeholders engagement meeting at the Nigeria Ports Authority Complex, Warri, where he expressed his “commitment to protect government revenue, facilitate legitimate trade, and enforce the law fairly and professionally”.
Doyens of industry and stakeholders from both Edo and Delta States attended, including Obioma Ochulor of Flour Mills Limited, Sapele; Engr. Osa Erhabor of Awaritse Shipyard Limited; and Tom Kadiri Enegbuma of Supermaritime Nigeria Limited, among others.
The Customs Area Controller appealed to the stakeholders for “constructive collaboration” just as he assured of open- hand partnership.
He declared, “Our Command has been handed an ambitious annual revenue target of approximately N209billion. This is not a number we can achieve in isolation. It is a milestone we must reach together.
”I am not here to dismantle the existing foundation left by my predecessor; I am here to build upon it through three core pillars – Consolidation, Collaboration and Innovation.
”Customs does not operate in a vacuum. You, our terminal operators, shipping agents, manufacturers, and traders, are the lifeblood of the maritime and economic ecosystem in Edo and Delta States.
”To our large corporations, local manufacturers, and critically, our Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs), my administration extends an open hand of partnership. We are operating in a challenging economic environment where rising costs put pressure on your businesses. Customs must not, and we will not, become an additional burden to legitimate trade.
”The road ahead to our N209billion target requires shared responsibility. Bring us your constructive ideas and your concerns today, and let us clear the operational bottlenecks together. In return, give us compliance, trust, and respect for established procedures.”
The Customs Area Controller advised stakeholders to continue engaging only in legitimate businesses, stressing that this is the only way to engage robustly with the Nigerian Customs Service.
”If you are compliant, we will facilitate you. We will ensure your cargo moves swiftly and predictably,” he stated.
He spoke further, “If you require clarification, we will guide you. Our doors are open to remove ambiguity. If you have a legitimate grievance, we will listen.
”But let it also be understood that trade facilitation will never mean compromising national security or revenue. Where there is deliberate violation of the law or false documentation, we will enforce the law with full regulatory weight.”