“Rat Race”

 What a race?

Sprinting with avidity,
Absurdly Palpitating,
In blind chase of vanity.

All eyes are gazed,
With minds so dazed,
Attention all fixated,
To this futile obsession. 

Wherefore wind and pant?
Could someone quickly probe?
Is anything the trouble,
Which makes you a psychopath?

“I must get this piece!!!”
“Though it jeopardises my peace”
“My time is a foot”
“Though I shoot everyone in the foot”

Don’t you see the path hazy?
“Nope! You think me rather lazy?”
Don’t you appreciate the huddles?
“Nope, I rather think of the goodies” 

They have no schema nor vision
To make the institution  greater,
Or think of the challenges,
To make room for a mission.

“I look forward to glory!”
Each of them asseverates.
Though it’s a source of worry
how gory their past reverberates.

Neither thinks to the future,
The bureau deserves to charter.
Nor does yesterday matter,
To appraise how we squatter. 

They scamper like goats,
Everything God they forgot,
They forgot that all deeds
Shall be accounted for indeed.

Pity!!!

Dikko Inde Abdullahi (CFR), Comptroller General, Nigeria Customs Service : A Tribute

     

Ever care to know developments in the Nigeria Customs Service? Have you cared to consider Customs as an agent of Nigeria`s development? Is leadership potent to achieving greatness in an organisation? Well be willing, at least for the first time, to be tasked a bit on developments in the Nigeria Customs Service.

Know you well how fares an institution?
First, get a grasp of its operating situation,
Then its processes and basic productions,
Whether such is Government or private organisation,
 It's leadership that drives it in the right direction,
The spirit of some was stirred to achieve greatness,
For its leader`s vision and plans for excellence,
When  some bureaus are malevolently lifeless,
Caricatures of themselves where they once stood faultless,
For dearth of he who would stir them to greatness.

Figure out Customs in its current achievements,
For the quality of its head, and his active Management,
Modernity has transmogrified its every segment,
New concepts and affiliations have painstakingly lit,
Its ethics escalating its task to lead,
In untangling complexities of the Trade environment,
Through Risks based and result oriented accomplishment,
Predicated fully within a secured cyber space,
And developed through proven domestic skills,
In the discharge of NCS` duty to the State.

The colossal `PAAR` was built with an ecumenical scope,
Its functionalities, by far, outstripping those of `RAR`,
Immensity of tasks under one grand Roof,
Developed and Christened the `PAAR Ruling` hub,
Driven by a crop of competent Customs staff,
Therein are the SO, FDVO, VCO, PARO and the RPO,
Decisive mutation to digital work environment,
When ASYCUDA transmuted + by +,
And would soon give way to `nicis` II,
For stronger Band width and more outreach.

Visit NCS` Trade hub on trade in goods,
On the touch of a button at www.nigeriatradehub.gov.ng,
Facility which eases up admission of legitimate goods,
Trade facilitation with the use of modern tools,
More revenue is collected for the nation`s use,
Borders are controlled with all energy fused,
Between agencies that work at the nation`s shores,
Inculcating the concept of Coordinated Border Rules,
To protect the country from smuggling that chokes.
Welfare of staff is raised to a comfortable stage.
Corruption at work is curved to a praiseworthy state.

NCS was re-fashioned in best pattern of forms,
With subscription to known capacity building tools,
Developed by WCO and global Trade facilitation teams,
We acceded to the WCO Revised Kyoto Agreement,
Which instrument was deposed by this Management,
We did away with ` Service Providers` of `Risk Management`,
Who constituted the worst risks to Customs Management,
In favour of the professionals in our Establishment,
We received Accolades for our superlative achievements,
For best `Service Delivery Standards` upon best KPIs.

The CGC`s message to the Trading World,
Is always relayed in very clear terms,
Through our proficient Public Relations team:
 “Be not dewy-eyed dear trader in goods”,
“Or be a `Mugu` in your dealings on goods”,
“Your dear jaunty and raffish business mood”
“Should reflect in the ethics of your trade in goods”
“Be compliant always when declaring your goods.
“Help the Service so that it would serve you good”,
“Consider your clients and your country`s good”.

The WCO West and Central Africa Region,
Suddenly came to terms with its legislation,
With the advent of this great legend,
Abdullahi Dikko Inde, the best Customs Development Agent,
On the saddle of the nation`s Customs body,
He became its Chair without any lobby,
For six solid years he gave it much courage,
Went all the way to establish a regional Customs College,
In addition to proper and more positive vigour,
He gave to the otherwise moribund regional body.

26^th May 2015

The Two But One Soul

A fairly long period of association can make couples a bit edgy with one another. By virtue of the man`s headship of the household he is likely to load upon and/or expect too much from the wife. Women could be at the receiving end of their marriage relationships especially where husbands underrate their roles in the creation of a vibrant family. Experiences have shown that many a woman is traumatized by the disagreeable conduct of their husbands. The fact is that women make the family and without them a family cannot be complete.

What the woman needs, among others, is respect to her person and appreciation of her contribution as a stake holder in the build up of the family. Deal mercifully with your wives dear husbands. Respect their point of view and collaborate with them to raise your homes. Sincerely treat your wife in a way that brings out the best in her. Consider the following few words for example:

Your face in mine appears, mine in your eyes,

Where find you two better halves?

With no squashy ends nor boggy edges,

You are all Queens and all Kings I,

Love with beams so reverend and constant,

I, like a butter fly, stand destined to surround and fly

Upon my wife, my lushly glittering Rose.

                                                                                                                                             

My love like a Liana has grown greater than empires,

Its orchards stand with matchless grandeur,

Would have loved you many years before the great flood,

My heart, plain white and spacious, waits luxuriantly,

With no gates, nor doors, nor locks,

For your sweet fragrance and loving presence,

In my heart thine soul dwells.

Our hands are cemented and too firmly locked,

    We share our tears and all stress we bear,

The sun shines on us as its everlasting sphere.

Since when you and I first one another behold,

Our love has grown an umbrageous shade,

With no yesterday, nor today and no tomorrow care,

A solid heart upon which no fault bears

To be Sincere

I wish young men could be sincere in their quest to seek for the hands of young women in marriage.Young men are often rash, harsh and impatient with young ladies and hardly ever appreciate that the latter have right to confirm the trust of whoever wants to separate them from their parents and convert them into wives. Why wouldn't young men be humble and speak to their wives 'to be' in a loving manner as follows? 

Its hurtful you believe me not,

Let’s say you trust me less,

I, sincerely, trust you more,

Having no reason not to believe so,

It`s still my humble self,

That guy you know all along,

Who came on the day with stars,

Proclaim you as a superstar.

You forget so quick with a wink?

I urge you carefully to think,

When I came I brought you a wish.

You accept with such superb a wit?

I hope to be part of you,

Best half for its bad and good,

Serve like a dress only fit for you,

Like a building with a very strong roof

Believe me I urge you more,

My frailties might be much,

I trust you know them most,

They are sources of strength though.

Not less,

More so,

Much more,

Most though

Remembering old times AKMAL, Malaysia

With colleagues from Fiji, Malaysia, Mongolia, Jordan, Indonesia and Bhutan, Pakistan, Seychelles etc.
It was the course for senior Customs Officers on "Passenger Facilitation" 
conducted at the Royal Customs Academy, Maleka, Malaysia August 2009. 
We were about to attend a farewell dinner in our native dresses. I could not 
held myself but sang:

'All in our national attire'
A multinational and multi-coloured affair,
How fair and clear we appear?
Happy and joyful we cheer,
Very dear and better we fair.

Children

Fragrance and more on the environment,

Gratifying to the parent`s eye,

Bestowing profound tranquility,

Treasure of unplumbed depth,

To family and the Community.

Develop the child to sooth your hope,

When your bones desiccate and

Beg for reposeful serenity.

Prepare them for the un fathomed voyage ahead,

Make them sentient to the maze that is the world.

Select a mother for your children,

Like you would for a father of your family,

On quality seedlings rests upon a harvest,

As the race relies not on a crippled stallion,

For the “truth eternally stands apart from falsehood”,

By knowledge are normal societies driven,

On it stood nations, empires and authorities,

Objectives achieved through rightful decisions,

Lest we plan for the belligerent by our negligence,

So set in a tragedy in universal bigotry.

 “Benefit", forsooth, "is my younger son!”,

“Happiness my dear daughter!!”, could a man declare,

In passionate ownership,

With elevated reassurance when his kids, by training,

Profit Society both near and far.

Who by choice would own the mediocre?

A misfit who with ignominy,

Attracts but grief and curses to his parents,

Who then live in despair and utter misery,

A rote which, forever, consumes the family.

Children are proceeds of measured investments,

In careful tread on the greasy path,

Of parenting, nurture, and relationships,

With displeasure intertwined in endless bliss,

And consequent cost to the self and resources.

Failure is fundamental to Negligence,

As planning is characteristic to excellence,

 `Quality recipe requires lots of attention`,

Make not, by laxity, your child a misfit.

The young generations are `Hopes for tomorrow`.

Tall stands education against ignorance,

Colour your kids with good education,

The young men, the girls even more so,

A combined force of value and politesse,

Panacea for all ill which humanity afflict,

How stifled is society with unschooled youth?

A habitat for sickness, poverty and intrigues,

An object suited for the trash bin of history.

“A learned person is alive even while he is dead”,

“An ignoramus is dead while he still lives”.

Condolence

On 14 April 2014 at about 6:45am the Nyanya suburb of Abuja was bombed where about 88 innocent citizens were killed and 124 were injured. According to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/April_2014_Abuja_bombing "Explosives hidden inside vehicles detonated during morning rush hour in a bus station in Nyanya on the outskirts of Abuja. After the initial blast, further explosions occurred as fuel tanks in nearby vehicles ignited".

We send our condolences to the families of those affected.


 Which period of the day is it?

When ordinary countrymen,

Full of commitment and patience,

Hasten with fervor to add worth,

To the national well being.

It was the tip of the brand new day,

The pinnacle of interlace of the multitude,

Each facing towards their trade,

In search for the elusive `daily bread`,

To fend for ordinary lives.

There suddenly emerge a notatorium of blood,

Releasing a vast bobbin unwinding death and grief,

Someone had determined that such beautiful common folks,

No longer needed to live.

Creating a pool of frenzy, wailing and grief.

We condole the nation for the irreparable loss,

We are tormented by the animalism,

And who so benefit in them shall be shamed,

Stronger is the spirit of the wronged,

And even stronger shall the multitude prevail.

Feeling

`I feel good`, declares the dove

`Why thou feelth good`, asked the porcupine

`For my being and my livelihood`

`Safe is my family, sound my environment`

`Mine nights secured as my days `

` Fruits abundant yields my labour`

`My neighbours ever so friendly`

`Mine being is well fortified`

`Thou hast reasons to show gratitude`

`Many are crammed in avoidable afflictions`

`Traumatised in days as their nights`

`Lives subject to incalculable twinge`

`Were leadership responsive and responsible`

`Were trust held with thorough sanctity`

`Were respect given to all human entities`

`Everyone shall feel good in equal quantity`

`Thou hast all reasons to be thankful`

  `For marauders and slayers are loose`

`Scything and plundering the innocent`

`Raiding and maiming with seamless impunity`

`Were everyone to pay their rightful fare`

`Nobody frowns or cast a sullen stare`

`Falsehood would not have a place to share`

`No one needs atone for any bad affair`

`Should authorities and society`:

`Guide kids to become responsible adults`

`Educate and show the right path to follow`

`Provide tools to robust social mobility `

`In adulthood and good care in old age`

`Facilitate access to the basics of living`

`Education, Food, light and water `

`For everyone who has a spine and liver `

`From the right, left, the front and centre`

`We will feel good and surely live good`,

Says the dove.