ACG Dangaladima Scores Enugu/Anambra/Ebonyi Customs Controller High on Revenue Generation and stakeholders Engagement

It was praise galore at Enugu/Anambra/ Ebonyi Customs Command weekend as the Assistant Comptroller of Customs ACG SK Dangaladima poured encomium on the Customs Area Command Controller, Comptroller Comfort Senas Ukpanah scoring her high on her developmental strides, revenue generation, legitimate Trade Facilitation, anti smuggling, Stakeholders engagement and value addition.

SK Dangaladima noted that “it takes a dedicated Customs officer to make such sacrifices you are making here. I have gone round the zone C Customs commands but I can say that what I am seeing here today is the most arranged and most beautiful. The development I am seeing here has gone a long way to show that your collaboration with Officers and Men and that of stakeholders is wonderful.”

"You have Thirteen Bounded Terminals and we are willing to open more to facilitate legitimate trade" Dangaladima said.

On Revenue Generation, ACG Dangaladima said that the command has done well even as he charged them to put in more effort.

He reiterated the importance of collaboration and synergy among the critical stakeholders and the officers, insisting that there should be mutual respect and discipline especially among the officers.

"We are here today because of the agents and other stakeholders, please respect them" 

"And agents on the other hand should shun any act that would put them and their businesses in a bad light by avoiding the importation and clearance of unwholesome goods"

He praised Comptroller Ukpanah for the various projects she embarked upon such as a well constructed and tastefully furnished Customs Offers Mess with accommodation, a well equipped Customs Canteen, constructing and interlocking of the Customs Command Headquarters among others.

ACG Dangaladima added that the essence of his working visit was to see firsthand what is happening at the various Commands in Zone C, interact with officers and men of the Nigeria Customs Service, and with stakeholders with a view to finding their challenges and working together for an improved relationship.

The Zone C, Customs boss also used the opportunity to admonish the officers and Men on the need to attend the junior and senior staff courses at Gwagwalada insisting that promotion going forward would be based on their educational improvement.

"You will be promoted and the Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR is interested in doing that. To show how serious and important the CGC is attached to removing any doubt on the transparency of the promotion exercise, he involved the management in marking your scripts. Therefore anything you get at the end of the exercise is a thorough reflection of your performance" Dangaladima said.

"But going forward, you must endeavour to attend the Junior and senior staff Courses at Gwagwalada as further promotion would be based on it," he insisted.

Earlier in her welcome address, Comptroller Ukpanah has said "May I on behalf of the Officers/Men of Nigeria Customs Service, En/An/Eb Command, humbly and most respectfully welcome you our amiable, charismatic, and indefatigable Zonal Coordinator Zone ‘C’, ACG SK Dangaladima to the headquarters of the Command."

According to her, the visit would provide a veritable platform to showcase the score card of the Command in the first half of the year 2025,and as well as acquaint the ACG with some of the milestones of the Command during the period under reference.

Continuing, she said "Permit me to recall Sir, that on assumption of office and following the reform agenda of Mr. President, the Comptroller General of Customs Bashir Adewale Adeniyi mfR fnipr DSS psc(+), initiated a total transformation ideology encompassing his action plans, hinged on the tripod of a collaboration, consolidation and innovative solutions. This Agenda was both courageous and result oriented, providing us with guidelines that propelled our operational modalities.” 

"I therefore make bold to say that the effects of this mandate, diligent and effective implementation of these initiatives were felt immediately, not only in the ease of doing business but mostly on revenue generation and quantity of seizures recorded by the service so far."

She posited that "This Command therefore cannot afford to be a clog in this wheel of progress and this is evident in the way and manner we rejigged our work ethics to be in synergy with the expectations of the Comptroller General, his management and of course my Zonal Coordinator." 

On Revenue profile, She stated that the Command was mainly a Revenue and Excise Command and for the period under review, generated a total of 26,366,862,133.48 (Twenty Six Billion, Three Hundred and Sixty Six Million, Eight Hundred and Sixty Two Thousand, One Hundred and Thirty Three Naira and Forty Eight Kobo). This Figure according to her was against 22,269,573,545.99 (Twenty Two Billion, Two Hundred and Sixty Nine Million, Five Hundred and Seventy Three Thousand, Five Hundred and Forty Five Naira, Ninety Nine Kobo) generated in the preceding year of 2024, which she noted represented a remarkable difference of 4,097,288,587.49 (Four Billion, Ninety Nine Million, Two Hundred and Eighty Eight Thousand, Five hundred and Eighty Seven Naira, Forty Nine Kobo) translating to 18% increase when compared with that of the previous year.

She however, used the opportunity to appreciate the leadership of Zone C for what she described as the provision of right leadership which enabled her Command to achieve those desirable feats.

Continuing, she asserted, "Historically speaking, on my arrival to the Command, I inherited eleven (11) Bonded Terminals, but with thorough diligent sensitization, we were able to attract additional two (2) Bonded Terminals with one (1) located in Ebonyi State as a pioneer Bonded Terminal in that axis and at the verge of final construction and approval from the headquarters."

On stakeholders Engagement, the Enugu/ Anambra/ Ebonyi Customs command boss, hinted that her Command prioritized Stakeholders engagement in line with the reform agenda of the Customs Management, adding "our engagement involves collaboration and synergy with various critical stakeholders - Government Agencies, Private Sectors, Traditional/Community leaders. 

The robust interface has led to improved systems of trade facilitation, which ultimately increased our revenue/Excise collections, while also enhancing better compliance with the process and procedures."

She also emphasized that they have created a platform for continuous engagement with the enforcement groups with a view to regularly reviewing the benefits of their collaborators, while exploring avenues for a more conducive environment to operate.

Her words: "I am happy to report to you Sir that we will continue to leverage on the existing relationship for the enhancement of our operations. It’s pertinent at this juncture to mention that we are at the vanguard of sensitizing passengers travelling through Akanu Ibiam International Airport to ensure that their experiences are not compromised while ensuring that inward and outward clearance of passengers/cargo are carried out with satisfaction."

"Also at the Bonded Terminals and the excise factories where our operatives are under our watch, we have developed a network of monitoring and evaluation to compel Excise Bonded Terminal operators and Excise Factories to operate in line with the extant guidelines." Okpanah noted.

On Security challenges, Comptroller Okpanah stated that the Command has experienced its own fair share of challenges especially with the security situation in the areas they cover, but was quick to say that with all the security challenges her "operatives have remained very uncompromising in the face of imminent danger."

Speaking on B’ Odogwu implementation,She said that the Unified Customs Management System (UCMS) also known as B'odogwu, was an indigenous platform developed by the Nigeria Customs Service to streamline port operations, reduce cost of clearing goods and enhance Revenue generation.

Explaining further, she said, "B’odogwu is fully operational and the command has successfully recorded a number of jobs being captured on the new system. The first SGD on B’odogwu was captured on 27th July 2025 by ILed Bonded Terminals Limited. In total, four SGDs have been captured at ILed, Harvardwise Nigeria limited and Don Climax."

She reiterated that her Officers/Men were dedicated and fully committed to achieving excellence in line with the constant counselling and support of the Customs Area Controller.(CAC)

She listed Completed Projects in the Command to include:

"Demolition and re-construction of Officers' Mess,l

Demolition and re-construction of Officers' Canteen,l

Landscaping and road construction of the Command Headquarters,l

Landscaping and road construction of Onitsha Outstation Barrack,l

Renovation of office complex in Onitsha outstation,l

Renovation of 1 number 3, bedroom Onitsha, Barrack,l

Renovation of 1 number 2 bedroom Onitsha, Barrackl

Renovation of 6 number 3 bedroom flat and 5 boys quarters, Enugu Quartersl

Commissioning of the Customs Clinic 2024 by the National Chairperson of Customs Officers Wives Association (COWA) Mrs. Kikelomo Adeniyi"

However, she listed some of the challenges which according to her were not limited to the under listed facing the command such as -

"Non-access to potable water, lack of enforcement officers, Vehicles (especially a bus) and drivers, etc."

She therefore thanked the ACG Dangaladima insisting that his visit would be a morale booster and working efficiency of Officers/Men of her Command.

Speaking on behalf of other Clearing and Forwarding associations, the NAGAFF Chairman Enugu/Anambra / Ebonyi Command Forwarder Raymond Okonkwo commended Comptroller Okpanah for her developmental initiatives and provision of a good business environment for agents to operate.

He said they have long been looking for such an opportunity to interact with the Customs management even as he scored Comptroller Ukpanah high on Stakeholders engagement among others.

Highpoints of the event were the Commissioning of the reconstructed, Customs Officers Mess and the reconstructed Customs Canteen by the ACG Dangaladima and also a Courtesy visit to His Royal Highness Igwe Dr. Emmanuel O.Ugwu,Anyanwu n' awalu Oha of Ibagwa Nike, Ezeokwe Kingdom and the Chairman Enugu East Council of Traditional Rulers where, ACG Dangaladima was inducted into the Traditional Council of Chiefs of Ezeokwe Kingdom.

Present at the event include ,Zonal Controller in charge of revenue, Comptroller TI Ezenwa, representatives of ANLCA, NAGAFF and Bounded Terminal Operators among others.

Written by Bon Peters, from Port-Harcourt in Rivers State

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