Civil society organisations, (CSOs), numbering 37, yesterday passed a strong vote of confidence on the comptroller-general (CG,) Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Bashir Adewale Adeniyi.
The CSOs passed the vote of confidence on Adeniyi at a press briefing held in Abuja, which was basically to counter blackmails, and unfounded media reports to tarnish his image.
On behalf of the CSOs, Amadi Chinda of Initiative for Community Development, said they have done critical investigations and assessment of the three years of Adeniyi-led NCS, which they saw his professionalism, pragmatism and patriotism to reposition and revamp the Service towards high productivity and high revenue generation for the country with global stands for transparency and accountability.
Some of the CSOs and their leaders include: Amb. Splendour Agbonkpolor, Chairman CBIAMEC; Amadi Chinda,
Initiative for Community Development; Ejiroghene Akporume Ovie, Poverty Alleviation for the Poor Initiative; Chiamaka Chukwuebuka .A, Women Centre for Self-Empowerment and Development; Balarabe Muhammadu,Leadership Centre for Peace Intercity and Transformation Initiative; Idongesit Edidiong Etop
Youth Enhancement Development Organization;Josiah Josephine Nanbam, Initiative for Advocacy Growth and Economic Advancement.
Others are, Funmilayo Eunice Obadare,Global Youths Awareness Development; Nosakhare .E. Ehisogie, Positive Action for Agricultural Produce Initiative; Tamarapreye Ebiowei Godwin,
Advocacy Centre for Professional Ethics Values; Adajinege Orahachi,
Anticorruption Network for Peace Initiative; Chubado Barkindo Demba, Centre for Agri-Business Support in Nigeria; Abatcha Babakura .H, Citizen Centre for Positive Change Initiative; Adda Manga Peters, Initiative for Transformation of the Under Privileged in Nigeria.
Chinda said: “We deemed it fit to call for this crucial press conference today in the nation’s capital city, Abuja, to express our collective view based on our painstaking investigations and assessment on the Comptroller General, CG, Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi (MFR).
“We have discovered that those who have contracted some sections of the media to blackmail CG Adeniyi are those whose illicit and illegal businesses have been grounded to a halt by the policies, and operations of the NCS since he took over the helms of affairs at NCS.
“The move by these disgruntled elements of economic sabotage are just ranting and seeking media sympathy, whose claims are unfounded and terribly misleading so they can continue to sabotage the economy and revenue generation.
“We have also discovered that these people are all out to continue their campaign of calumny to tarnish the CG’s great work that had positively impacted revenue generation and plugging loopholes they had over the years explored to sap the revenue of the country.
“The policies, anchored on three pronged agenda of consolidation, collaboration, and innovation, to ensure trade facilitation, reducing cost of doing business, upscaling revenue generation, protection of lives of Nigerians and economy with policies against smuggling operations; facilitating regional, continental and global trade integration including capacity building and development of the institution.
“It is important to point out that since CG Adeniyi came on board the Service had experienced unprecedented success in different areas in accordance with their mandate and surpassing the revenue generation targets they have been given.”
The coalition also said the massive achievements by the CG have earned him local and international awards as a prove of his dedication and transparency in running the affairs of the Service for the three years he has been on the saddle;
The South East merchants long constrained by moving between Lagos and Port-Harcourt to clear their imports, and the high cost of hinterland logistics, have emerged as major beneficiaries of his trade facilitation drive.
