Customs Creates 8 Additional Area Commands, Upgrades Training College

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has approved the unbundling of some existing Area Command and the creation of eight new ones.

According to a circular signed by the Deputy Comptroller General of Customs (DCG) in charge of Finance, Administration and Technical Services (FATS), Aminu Dangaladima, the approval for the unbundling and creation of the eight Area Commands was granted at the 50th Regular Meeting of the Nigeria Customs Service Board held on Tuesday 21st May 2019.

The Area Commands created include the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Area Command from the Muritala Muhammed Airport Command with headquarters at the MMIA; the Ogun II Area Command from Ogun Area Command with headquarters at Abeokuta; North Eastern Marine Command from Eastern Marine Command with headquarters at Makurdi and Kaduna Area Command from Kaduna/Kastsina Area Command with headquarters at Kaduna.

Others are Kebbi Area Command from Sokoto/Kebbi/Zamfara Area Command with Headquarters at Birnin- Kebbi; Kwara Area Command from Niger/Kwara/Kogi Area Command with headquarters at Ilorin; North Western Marine Command from Western Marine Command with headquarters at Lokoja and Port Harcourt Oil and Gas Free Trade Zone (FTZ) Area Command from PHC 1 Area Command with headquarters at Onne.

In a related development, the NCS has approved the elevation of the Service’s Command and Staff College to Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) to be headed by a Deputy Comptroller General of Customs.

A circular signed by DCG Dangaladima on behalf of the Comptroller General of Customs, Hameed Ali, said the elevation, approved by the NCS Board at its 50th regular meeting held on Tuesday 21st May 2019, was part of the re-organization of the Service in line with the present management’s agenda.

He noted that the action was to pave way for the college to measure up with the responsibility of developing curriculum, conducting training, ensuring synergy and conducting oversight roles in one place.

“Nigeria Customs Service TRADOC will also conceptualize training curriculum, allocation of particular levels of training to various Nigeria Customs Service colleges and oversees the actual conduct of training,” Dangaladima said.