The Zonal Coordinator in charge of Zone A, ACG Hammi Swomen, has charged over 60 officers to remain worthy ambassadors of the Nigeria Customs Service as they concluded an intensive training on weapon handling.
Swomen, who also represented the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, made this remark on Friday, 19 April 2024, during the passing out Ceremony of Officers of the Federal Operation Unit, Zone A, who were trained on weapon handling at the Customs Training College, Ikeja, Lagos.
Expressing appreciation for the dedication of all involved, Swomen emphasised the significance of the training in enriching the Nigeria Customs Service.
He said, “This is a wonderful milestone, not just for the Zone but the entire service. It is a message we would carry far and wide”.
With retirement on the horizon, Swomen expressed confidence in the Service’s future, stating, “My primary constituency, NCS, is moving to greater heights.” He urged the trained officers to positively influence their colleagues as a way of renewing their commitment to the Service.
Addressing pressmen on how the training would contribute to the general goal and mission of the Service, he said, “It is all-encompassing, ranging from how they deal with members of the public to carrying out operational affairs and others. They had classroom work, study tour to Seme checkpoints and went for shooting range too”.
Highlighting the comprehensive nature of the training, which addressed challenges faced by Customs Officers in the field, Outgoing Federal Operations Unit Comptroller Hussein Ejubunu remarked, “It behoves on the leadership to ensure that training and retraining of personnel is done as and when due. This crop of Officers were posted to the Zone and my Command and I felt the need for them to be retrained on weapon handling as this has become a challenge”.
“It is an indication that the Service will still go places and that we have competent trainers in the NCS that can train our men. I have no doubt in me with the present crop of Officers that are passing out today”. He acknowledged.
Commandant of Customs Training College, Ikeja, DC Haniel Hadison, expressed gratitude to the CGC for the opportunity to conduct the one-month training on weapon handling.
Hadison emphasised the effectiveness of the modules covered, noting, “In the course of this training, we did not experience any casualty.”
Hadison highlighted its significance in addressing operational challenges faced by Customs Officers, from engaging with the public to executing operational affairs effectively.
