Customs Area 1: Compt. Atuluku Visits Airport Omagwa, Harps on Continued Synergy to Attract Cargo increase

The continued lull in Cargo aircraft landing at the Port Harcourt International airport Omagwa has attracted the attention of the the new Customs Area 1, Controller, Comptroller  Salamatu Atuluku, leading to her maiden official visit to the customs Unit at the international airport, Omagwa,Rivers State Tuesday.

The familiarization visit afforded the Customs Area 1, boss the opportunity to interact with the officers and men of the Nigeria customs Service Airport unit, sister government agencies, the Airport management and the clearing and forwarding agents on the need to collaborate to attract more patronage to the airport.

In her remarks, Comptroller S Atuluku stated that it was with great pleasure that she stood before them, insisting that the visit would provide the stakeholders with a valuable platform to strengthen bonds, share perspectives, and renew their collective commitment to ensuring the smooth operations of the airport, which she described as "such a vital gateway to our nation."

Comptroller Atuluku expressed her deepest appreciation to the Comptroller General of Customs Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR and members of his management team for their outstanding leadership and unwavering support.

She noted that their vision has continued to reposition the Nigeria Customs Service for greater efficiency, transparency, and effectiveness, adding that it was on that same vision “that guides our actions at the Area Commands, and it is the driving force behind our presence here today."

Speaking further, she commended the officers and men of the Nigeria Customs Service working at the airport for their hard work and resilience insisting that day after day, they discharge their duties under challenging circumstances, but  continue to uphold the values of service with discipline, and integrity.

She encouraged them to remain steadfast, emphasizing that the nation depends on their diligence.

Compt. Atuluku also extended her heartfelt gratitude to the esteemed stakeholders, partners, airlines, ground handlers, agents, and operators within the airport,   for their cooperation and partnership even as she equally recognized the presence of other sister government agencies at the event noting that the Nigeria Customs Service placed high value on inter-agency cooperation, because according to her, "no single agency can achieve success in isolation."

She reminded them that their shared mandate of safeguarding the nation, promoting trade, and ensuring safety at the airport required synergy, mutual respect, and joint responsibility, promising to deepen collaboration with all of them.

"As we move forward, let us strengthen the spirit of teamwork that binds us. With mutual trust, transparency, and innovation, there is no doubt that we can collectively surmount challenges and set new benchmarks of success" she emphasized.

She reiterated that guided by the vision of the Comptroller General of Customs and driven by the agency's common responsibility to the nation, she was confident that they would achieve greater feats.

She therefore, thanked them for their warm reception, cooperation and continued dedication praying that their collective efforts would yield results that would be a source of pride to the Service, agencies, and the nation.

Also in his emotion laden speech, the Deputy Comptroller, in charge of Airport unit of the Nigeria customs Service, DC SE Ntuen , who said he would be retiring soon, praised the Customs Area 1 controller, stating that he was satisfied with her leadership style.

DC Ntuen, noted that despite the short time he has worked with Compt. Atuluku, he has learnt several lessons that would guide him in his future endeavours.

He praised the Nigeria customs Service for giving him the pedestal which he said helped him to grow.

He added that he reached the apex in his career but has to leave as according to him, "my time is up."

"I will forever remain grateful to the entire management and staff of the Nigeria customs Service and especially to the officers and men I have worked with at the airport and other places.I will carry the banner of  Nigeria Customs service anywhere  I go because it has made me fulfilled as a person and I enjoin the officers and men that I am  living behind to endeavour to take the Service to a great height "  DC Ntuen stated.

Also speaking, the Port Harcourt International airport manager, Mrs. Ifesinachi Ezike, represented by the Airport Chief of Security,(ACoS ) Chief, Chiaka S Ukaegbu who welcomed the Customs Area 1, Port Harcourt controller, vowed  that the airport authority will do anything possible to  help her  succeed in her mandate.

Ezike, who also doubled as the Regional manager South - south decried the low patronage of Port Harcourt International airport by Cargo airlines despite availability of functional  and state of the art facilities at the airport.

She hinted that the airport authority has been making frantic efforts to woo some Cargo airlines to come and make the airport viable even as she promised to make operations at the airport seamless both for cargoes and passengers.

On the relationship with customs, the airport chief stated that the authority would contribute its own quota, ensure synergy and collaboration so as to return the airport to glory.

"We have state of the art handling facilities but they are underutilized. We also have trained manpower and our terminal building is one of the best, we can handle large volumes of freight and Cargo operations." Mrs. Ezike said.

Meanwhile, Mr Charles Onyema, Port Harcourt International Airport chapter chairman, Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) has called for stakeholders' commitment to ensure that the airport regains its lost glory.

He made the call while receiving the new Area 1 Customs boss, during her maiden visit to Port Harcourt international airport Omagwa.

The ANLCA chieftain disclosed his member’s willingness to collaborate with her for effective Cargo clearance at the airport insisting that all hands should be on deck to make the airport work efficiently, adding that such would ensure more revenue for the airport authority, the Nigeria customs Service and the agents among others.

Onyema said that such collaboration would help in addressing the menace and also boost revenue for the region.

“Our leaders have refused to draw the attention of relevant authorities to help tackle encumbrances militating against smooth cargo operations. This silence is unhealthy for the economic well-being of the regions.” he emphasized

Sister agencies that were on hand to receive the customs Area 1, Controller, Comptroller Atuluku include, Nigeria Air force, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Immigration, Marine Police. Others were Terminal Operators and critical stakeholders.

Bon Peters,

 in Port Harcourt, Rivers State

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