Modernisation

When the new Management of the NCS set to modernize our Service to address the ever increasing challenges of international trade and related security and expectations of the trading community it initiated an aggressive modernization programme. These included a robust HRD drive, automation of procedure, employment of scanning and Risk management technology, living wage and adequate welfare for staff etc, etc. I thought about and composed the following verses:

Have you checked your Vision to see?

For, at tandem, with your Mission it should be,

Lest you shall be stranded at Sea,

Then, perhaps, loose the capacity to lead,

Your flock to the envisaged venue you foresee.

Objectives you must carefully Design,

Methodology as well, well aligned,

Wouldn’t manpower be appropriately assigned?

And resources identified and organized?

The process then kick-started and consigned?

Yester years our men were many,

Our offices also many and many,

Yet our job was performed as any,

With less heed nor remorse, not funny,

‘It was routine’, it was said with canny.

With little skilled manpower and logistics,

Ever inadequate to justify our obligations,

Our mandate vis a vis government expectations,

Could hardly be achieved to our satisfaction,

And so we moved with spent aspirations.

Our border enforcement was akin to ‘what do you carry?’

Even for goods not among what the prohibitions carry?

The ‘Long Room’ was long and procedure did vary,

From Sokoto, Lagos to Port Harcourt and Warri,

Then the trader was left in agony and worry.

  

Consider the tremendous level of achievement,

In the last few years of careful development,

As our system was visited with incredible enhancement,

Our human resources ditto with astonishing improvement,

‘Best Practice’, ‘knowledge based’ accomplishment.

Full automation has replaced the manual conditioning,

We employ the scanner and analyse image in examining

All consignments brought in or taken out by managing,

Their Risk through robust and competent targeting,

Everything works thanks to meticulous repositioning.

Officers are now clothed and accommodated,

Their salaries and privileges well upgraded,

Their integrity and position appreciated,

As their limits on the job are stated,

For only their best output is expected.

Modern Customs with unlimited potential,

Officers now are truly professional,

Their dedication and loyalty phenomenal,

Reliable, predictable and exceptional,

Focused, Result oriented and proficient.

Our vision for the job increases by the day,
We`re integrating the border crossings to eliminate delays,
Harmonising operations with bodies with stakes,
all agencies brought together to facilitate trade,
In a Single Window platform as a one stop stage.

Our Management team operates like no other,

They steer our ship and cruise just in order,

The ACGs, DCGs and the CGC along the ladder,

Appreciated by the Government, WCO and the wider

Society for their foresight and competence more than all others.

Goron Dutse

The Customs Training College, Goron Dutse Kano, is the pioneer Customs training institution of Nigeria with history spanning over fifty years. It is a serene environment conducive for rugged paramilitary regimentation and excellent academic and weapon instruction. Recruits often fear to be listed there for their basic training. ‘Whoever goes through Goron Dutse and passes’, they would aver, ‘could as well have served in Waterloo and excel’. Goron Dutse is however an environment misunderstood.

How ‘expansively desolate’ it appears,

‘A malignant nemesis’

‘No wonder’ says the pessimist,

‘It is sandwiched between the PRISON and the CEMETERY’

Believe not these deceitful impressions,

Go deep, explore the expressions,

Underlying this great institution,

They are of sublime and noble constitution,

‘Tedious’ has been the path to knowledge,

Moulder of recruits of diversed backgrounds,

GORON DUTSE is the incubator,

Hatcher of golden eggs for the Service.

A citadel at the heart of the city,

Of Kano, the centre of Commerce,

Where the DALA is placed,

Strategically equal with GORON DUTSE.

Did I hear ‘Left! Right!! and Centre!!!’?

On the field for the Drills and Postures?

Or, in the class, ‘Detention and Seizures’?

THREE HEARTY CHEERS for the School and its Masters.

Little do we collectively think over,

That we, most certainly, shall ponder,

Reminisce hence, over and over,

On the college, its recruits and wonder.

We may, one day, speak nostalgically,

Recapitulate its pure memory,

And announce it honest admiration,

That the best that happened to us was GORON DUTSE.

Responsibility

To build a prosperous nation requires the contribution of all, the role played by individuals not less important. Do not therefore under estimate the importance of what you can contribute to make your nation great. For:

‘You are entrusted with responsibility

To be a public servant or a nobility,

To provide service for the community,

Only the reasonable shoulder responsibility.

Will you discharge to the best of your ability?

What society feels is part of your capability,

And strive to attain a position of accountability,

Or would you rather choose to be a societal liability?

This nation depends entirely on your productivity,

Aspire to be bad and ravel in un-productivity,

And the nation will weep at your insensitivity.

Would you wish for children to be left in captivity?

Of ignorance and disease or perhaps in abject poverty?

Would you rather our elderly die in ignobility?

Or our enterprises exposed to un-profitability?

For your malignant laziness and short-sighted mentality,

To build a nation is to cherish its historicity,

Appreciate its worth and aspire for credibility,

Improve its lot and provide for maximum capacity,

For its men and women to contribute to the best of their ability

To making their society great with strong Nationality.