By Stephen Ubanna
The Ramadan Lent Periods, appears to have provided ample opportunity for Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, to give a word of advice to officers and men of the service ‘’to embrace the spirit of service, discipline and clarity’’, which he had described as essential values ‘’in this month of the Ramadan, which is celebrated the world-over by Muslim faithful.
Speaking on Wednesday, March 19, 2025, during ‘’the grand Iftar’’ organized by the Trade Modernization Project, TMP, Limited, overseeing the B’Odogwu system, an indigenous technology developed by the service, which had replaced the Nigeria Integrated Customs Information System, NICIS, a foreign technology , at the Customs Headquarters in Maitama, Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, the Customs Comptroller General, was said to have urged the attendees at the event , to take advantage of the platform provided during this Fasting period ‘’for reflecting on the Ramadan lessons and the importance of giving back to the society what it had gotten from it’’.
The Osun state born CGC, was said to have underscored ‘’ the significance of piety, self-discipline, devotion and dedication to duties’’, noting that ‘’Fasting offers an opportunity to develop a more profound sense of empathy for the less privileged’’.
Putting on the garb of a devoted Muslim, CGC Adeniyi, had alluded to the Teachings of Prophet Mohammed on Charity, which he had said thought the Muslim faithful ‘’to care for the less privileged’’. This is a message for those who are a position of thrusts, whether in Customs or not to help the less privileged in the society but instead of lining up their pockets and setting up new investments to prepare for their future.
He had said that beyond the personal devotion and discipline cultivated during this period of Ramadan and Lent, Fasting allows both the Muslims and Christians to experience, even if briefly, what those who cannot afford to eat three square meals go through on a daily basis.
He was said to have also highlighted the unique spiritual alignment between Ramadan and Lent in the Christendom, stating that the simultaneous observance of the fasting periods by the two religions ‘’represents a unified experience of sacrifice and reflection’’.
He noted that this is not the first time, the Muslim Faithful and Christians, the world over are observing the Ramadan and Lent simultaneously. He had recalled that for two or three consecutive periods in a row, the we witnessing Ramdan running simultaneously with the Lent period’’, which many believe is a way of drawing the two religions closer.
He was said to have told the attendees at the TMP Limed, organized event, at the FCT, that what it means is at one time, all of us, both Muslims and Christians are experiencing the discipline of giving out food and drink, and also helping us to understand ‘’the struggles of those who lack the basic necessities of life: food, shelter and clothing.
This may have informed why he had said that the Ramadan and Lent periods, is a time ‘’to think about our communities and obligations to those around us’’. He was said to have linked the principle of selflessness and service to the NCS, to its new Corporate Social Responsibility, CSR, programme,’’ Customs Cares’’, which was said to have focused on community development, education health care and other social investments.
He had averred that what the NCS, under his Leadership is doing today, is just a stepping stone for what the service had chosen to do at the micro and macro-levels, meaning that the CSR, arrangement is no longer the exclusive preserve of the private sector .
He noted that the Launch of the service CSR, is in the spirit of the Ramadan and Lent, urging the officers and the other security agencies operatives and stakeholders, who were at the Iftar programme, ‘’to embrace humanity as guiding principle as it epitomizes who we are as an organization’’.
Even before the present CGC, came out with the service CSR programme, DCG, Bello hammed Jibo, who incidentally was a- one-time Area Controller of Seme Command, overseeing the joint border Community between Nigeria and the neighbouring Republic of Benin, described as the busiest land border station in the African Continent had provided public bathrooms and toilet facilities and a functional borehole in the area for the residents.
The provision of these basic facilities in the Community was said to have reduced the tension in the area, ad drawn the officers closerto the people. This is evident going by the spectacular Contraband seizures including hundreds of Jerry cans of loaded Premium Motor Sprit, PMS, poular, petrol , by past and the Incumbent Area Controller, of the Land Border Station Compt. Ben Nkem Oramalugo, PH.D.
Giving an insider information of how the CRS, Department is going to work, an elated CGC Adeniyi, who could not hide his feelings was said to have given an insight on how the Customs newly established CSR, Department is going to work out, had said that their commitment to public service extends beyond trade facilitation, revenue collection and border security to uplift the Communities in which they operate, across the country.
He may have gladdened the heart of the officers when he prayed that their acts of service in its core areas of responsibilities like trade facilitation, revenue collection and anti-smuggling operations will contribute to a more compassionate and united and better Nigeria.
He was emphatic that the service Constitutional responsibilities go beyond enforcing the country’s trade laws, but also to sere the communities within its areas of jurisdiction across the country.
This is good news for the border Communities in the south- south states of Akwa Ibom, cross river, Akwa Ibom, south west states of Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, and the north central states of Kwara and Niger including the north eastern states of Adamawa, Taraba, Borno , Yobe and the north western states of Zamfara, Sokoto, Katsina and Kebbi, described as hub of foreign rice, second hand clothing, pneumatic tyres, drug and Premium Sprit, PMS, popular, petrol smugglers.
Many believe that with the message of the CGC, at the TMP Limited Ramadan event at the Customs Headquarters, which was said to have been shared to the various Customs Formations across the country for the officers and men of the service to embody this spirit of Ramadan and Lent as a refining part of their work, smuggling activities will be reduced to the barest minimum across the country. This is because residents of the border Communities, who previously see Customs officers as enemies would now see them as friends who cares and ready to volunteer information at a given to help them do their job to track the economic saboteurs.
Recall that Federal Government agencies like Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, now baptized Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL, under the close watch of Mele Kolo Kyari, with the passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB, by the National Assembly signed into Law , by former President Muhammadu Buhari, in August 2021, and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, which has Dayo Mobereola, as the Directorship, already have functional CSR, Department, which may have informed why as Corporate bodies, they have always assisted flood ravaged Communities and victims across the country and other Corporate social responsibilities including building schools, health center and offering out scholarships to tertiary institutions .
An appreciative CGC Adeniyi, who was said to expressed gratitude to the Chairman of TMP Limited, and team, for organizing the Ramadan event, was said to have commended the serene atmosphere created for the Iftar.
He had prayed for divine blessings, peace, and prosperity for Nigeria and further wished all officers and men of the service and the stakeholders to witness many more Ramadan seasons in good health.
Saleh Ahmadu, Chairman, TMP Limited, who was said to have appreciated the gathering for honouring their invitation despite the short notice was said to have joined the CGC, in praying for the attendees that God Almighty would’’ reward each and every person abundantly’’.
