Compt Wada rejuvenates Katsina Customs with N935.3million revenue collection

Compt Wada rejuvenates Katsina Customs with N935.3million revenue collection

… 69,436.77 metric tons of exports; N144.8million seizures

…As Musa Nuradeen takes over leadership

To say that Compt Wada Chedi has rejuvenated the Katsina State Command of Nigeria Customs Service is just stating the obvious. He brought intelligence and fresh impetus to bear in revenue collection, trade facilitation and anti-smuggling operations, which turned the Command around for greater productivity.

It is to his credit that the Command generated a whopping sum of N935.3million revenue in 2022, surpassing N60.8million target allocated for the Command in 2022 fiscal year.

It’s also to his credit that Katsina Customs Command for the first time in history recorded a big boost in export trade, with Free-On-Board (FOB) value of N4,426,105,643.02 for non-oil commodities with Metric Tons of 69,436.77 exported through Jibia Magama Border Station. This amount of export is unprecedented since that Command was created.

Anti-smuggling :  Katsina Command under the leadership of Compt Wada
made 379 arrests. Out of the total number of 379 arrests, 258 were converted to seizures after thorough investigations, with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N144,758,341.00 (approximately N144.8million).The seizures included food items; foreign rice, second hand clothings, foreign vegetable oil, foreign spaghetti noodles and vehicles used as means of conveyance (Cars, Buses, Trucks and Motorcycles).

Compt Wada known to be anti-smuggling Czar rattled smugglers at Jibia border, giving them sleepless nights. His anti-smuggling activities, which were always presented
monthly further revealed his giant strides in enforcement duties.

When it comes to implementing government fiscal policies and enforcement, Compt Wada is a guru. His uncompromising trait didn’t start now. He has replicated this remarkable feat when he was Area Controller at Seme Command and other formations he served, before being posted to Katsina State.

Arrest/prosecution :
As a no-nonsense enforcement Officer, his team arrested 10 suspects during the period under review. Some are presently being prosecuted at the Federal High Court while some were granted administrative bail.

Handing over ceremony :  Today, it is quite clear that Compt Wada is standing tall in his career as exemplary Customs Officer. As he moves to his new area of responsibility, he is handing over Katsina formation to Compt. Musa Nuradeen, as the new CAC.

Send-off ceremony :  Giving his welcome address during the send-off ceremony and thanksgiving organised in his honour, Compt Wada enthused : “These successes would not have been achieved without the vigorous efforts and resilience of Officers/Men of the Command and other layers of Customs formations giving the smugglers sleepless nights. The overwhelming supports and cooperation of other government Agencies and the Border Communities can not be overlooked.

“Consequently, despite the overwhelming achievements recorded in year 2022, the Command regrettably lost two of its officers in the course of discharging their assigned duties. We pray God Almighty to grant their families the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss, Amen.”

Projects :  He added : “Also, in the Command’s effort to improve the welfare of Officers, the Command requested from Customs Headquarters Management for more barrack accommodations to be provided and it was approved. Some of the welfare packages include; 49 self-contain apartments, which have been fully completed. 16 self-contain apartments project still on-going.

Other on-going renovations being carried out in the Command are; some office blocks, CAC’s house and the Officers’ Mess. A total of 59 projects were approved for the Command, so far. 36 had been completed, while 23 are on-going.  Additionally, 13 brand new operational vehicles, Arms, Ammunitions, Uniforms, kits and office Stationeries were equally supplied to ease operations in the Command.”

Promotion :  He revealed : “During the year under review, the Customs Management promoted a total of 4,958 Officers and Men to the next rank, which the Command greatly benefitted from.”

His words : “Let me equally use this opportunity to express the Command’s profound gratitude and appreciation to Katsina State Government under the leadership of His Excellency, RT HON. AMINU BELLO MASARI for allocating an expanse of land to the Command, situated along Jibiya road which the NCS Management planned relocating the Area Command in future. ”

Awards presentation  : The ceremony culminated in presentation of awards in recognition to some Royal fathers, stakeholders who had immensely contributed to peace, progress and successes of the Command. Also presented with awards of recognition were some Patrol Teams and Units of the Command that distinguished themselves in their respective areas of assigned duty.”

Speaking further, Wada expressed his profound gratitude to the Comptroller-General of Customs, CGC Hameed Ibrahim Ali and his Management Team for their continuous support and guidance. Also, he thanked Daura Emirate Councils, Heads of various Security and Sister Agencies, Importers, Exporters, Customs Licenced Agents, Civil Societies, Members of the Press and the entire people of Katsina State for their support towards the successes recorded by the Command.