By Aisha Cole
Lagos : Hammi Swomen, the outgoing Assistant Comptroller-General of Customs (ACG), Zone ‘A’, has called for the training and re-training of customs personnel in weapons handling.
Swomen, who made the call on Wednesday in Lagos during a ceremony to mark his retirement from service.
He said that with such trainings, personnel could adequately protect themselves from smugglers.
“There’s a need for more training, which tells me that there is also a huge gap in weapons training.
“I am appealing to the management to look into re-training officers on weapon handling,” the retiring ACG said.
He charged senior officers to mentor the younger ones on the customs’ core duties of revenue generation and suppressing smuggling.
“I am also commending the efforts of the present management on robust welfare packages, which means that officers redoubled their efforts to surpass revenue generation targets and reduce smuggling activities to the barest minimum.
“The only way we can reciprocate the management’s gesture is to redouble our efforts and embrace mentorship roles,” Swomen said.
He appreciated all the officers he had worked with while in service, thanking them on behalf of his family and praying to God to bless them with wisdom to excel in their duties.
The ceremony was attended by the Commandant-in-charge of Customs Training College, Ikeja, Deputy Comptroller, Haniel Hadison; and the FOU Zone ‘A’ Comptroller, Kolapo Oladeji
Others at the farewell ceremony were Customs Comptrollers for Seme Border,
Apapa Command, Babatude Olomu; Lilipond Export Command, Ajibola Odusanya; and Tincan Island Command, Dera Nnadi.
The Comptroller of Customs in charge of Seme, Timi Bomodi, described Swomen as soft spoken , full of wisdom, a thorough person and extremely intelligent.
He said he had contributed true leadership, and wished him success in his future endeavours.
The Comptroller in charge of Apapa command, Babatunde Olomu, commended him as a gentle man, adding that they would miss him with his enormous wisdom and experience.
Comptroller at Lilypond Export Command, Ajibola Odusanya, described him as passionate.
He added that the command appreciated the leadership role he had brought to bear while he was the head of the zone.
Tincan Island customs head, Comptroller Dera Nnadi, pleaded with Swomen to always make his door available, to enable them to tap more of his wisdom and experience.
Nnadi commended the effort of Swomen for reviving Kirikiri Command, Which he said was already moribond, adding that his effort would never be forgotten.
The Commandant in charge of Customs Training College Ikeja, Deputy Comptroller , Haniel Hadison, said they would miss Swomen’s fatherly roles played while in service.
The Comptroller, Federal Operation Unit, Zone A, Kolapo Oladeji, described Swomen as a thorough officer and a disciplinarian person.
In his acceptance speech, the new ACG, Zone ‘A’, Saidu Yusuf, thanked the customs management for giving him the privilege to serve.
Yusuf described Swomen as a principled and ever-attentive leader, who was always ready to resolve issues whenever it arose.
“When a leader is principled, he will want to achieve whatever targets he sets for himself.
“He is very hardworking and intelligent.
“It is a virtue that God has given you, we pray for good health and happiness after your retirement,” Yusuf said.
He stressed the need to improve on stakeholders engagement to facilitate customs operations.
Yusuf thanked the outgone ACG for transforming the Zone and assured that they would continue to move the service forward.
