High Expectations : As Compt Ugbagu, a thorough enforcement officer takes over leadership of Customs FOU Zone ‘C’ Owerri

High Expectations :
As Compt Ugbagu, a thorough enforcement officer takes over leadership of Customs FOU Zone ‘C’ Owerri

Expectations are high, as Compt Micheal Ugbagu takes over the leadership of Nigeria Customs Service, Federal Operations Unit, FOU, Zone ‘C’, Owerri.

This is because the top Customs management and stakeholders expect Compt Ugbagu, who is highly experienced in enforcement duties to bring his ingenuity and doggedness to bear in taking the Unit to greater heights.

More so, the transition exercise that ushered Compt Ugbagu into office, as the new Customs Area Controller, CAC, of the Unit was indeed colourful, as the outgoing CAC, Compt Kayode Kolade, described Mike Ugbagu as a thorough enforcement guru.

Speaking further, Compt Kayode thanked the Comptroller-General of Customs; CGC Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR, and his entire management team, for the trust and confidence reposed on him to serve as CAC of FOU Zone C.

His words : “I am grateful to the CGC and his entire management team, for the trust and confidence reposed on me from January 23, 2023 to April 19, 2024, as I handover the affairs of this Unit to another amiable Area Controller, Mike Ugbagu, who is also a thorough enforcement guru”.

He thanked officers of the unit for their unparalleled support, commitment, dedication, handwork and prayers, adding that their support was the reason for his successes.

The outgoing CAC said the Unit under his leadership made seizures worth over N7.577billion from January 25, 2023 to April 19, 2024.

Speaking further, the outgoing CAC called on everyone to extend same support and cooperation to his successor, Michael Ugbagu, as he pilots the affairs of the unit.

He said ; “I wish you well, my brother. You will succeed and your legacies will be felt as well”.

In his response, Ugbagu thanked the CGC and his entire management team for giving him the mandate to oversee the affairs of FOU C.

He thanked Compt Kolade for his “highly commendable “ achievements while he held sway and pledged continued compliance with established guidelines.

“We will ensure compliance with the current import and export guidelines using intelligence and technology to drive our operations.

“There will be watertight security against smuggling activities across the zone. Smugglers will be discouraged, frustrated and made uncomfortable, thereby making smuggling, duty evasion and warehousing of smuggled goods unattractive within the zone “, he said.

He called for support and cooperation from the media and the public to enable him carry out his new assignment.

Thus, looking at the exceptional performance of Compt Ugbagu at Eastern Marine Command, EMC, recently, it’s quite glaring that he has the expertise and competence to bring fresh impetus to reposition FOU Zone C for greater productivity, as well as operational efficiency.

Recall that between January and February 2024, as CAC of Eastern Marine Command, Compt Ugbagu made seizures of two trailers loaded with yam tubers and other assorted items loaded in boats, intended for illegal exportation through the creeks and waterways to Cameroon. The items had a Duty Paid Value of over N250million.
Other seizures made within that same period included 16 drums of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS); 23 Jumbo sacks of used shoes; 150 bags of 50kg foreign rice and 432 used tyres. Also, 5 suspects were arrested in connection with the seizures.

Thus, with his current posting to FOU Zone C, Compt Ugbagu now has a larger area of responsibilities, covering not only anti-smuggling on waterways and creeks like the Eastern Marine Command, but also the hinterland cutting across several States in the South-Eastern region.