THE STRATEGIST AT FEDERAL OPERATIONS UNIT “A” IKEJA
Honestly, dedication is undoubtedly seen and regarded as the fulcrum upon which the credibility of any government concerns and development is anchored.
No wonder, the immortal words of the 35th president of America, J.F. Kennedy who declared that if a free society cannot help many who are less informed, it cannot save a few who are well informed, by not creating a conducive environment for both to live in peace without violation of laws of the land as it relates to core customs enforcement jobs.
Before now, not many Nigerians knew much about the Federal Operations Unit of the Nigeria Customs Service let alone its activities. But with the emergence of Deputy Comptroller, Yahaya B.U as the Customs Area Controller of the Zone “A” Unit of the Federal Operations. The service has not only become a household name. It has also become the beginning of wisdom for smugglers and marketers of contraband items throughout the Western Command of the Nigeria Customs Service. Literally, Yahaya’s presence has Czar’s touch – He came, he saw and he conquered.
Heading the Federal Operations Unit Zone “A” of the Nigeria Customs Service may not have been his 1st major public responsibility he has carried out. Inspite of that D.C Yahaya, B.U. remains one Nigerian Officer whose sense of responsibility is awesome, and that obviously accounts for why his name is as popular as Nigeria customs Service (Operations).
Interestingly, while the Federal Operations Unit Zone “A” area of coverage is popular for its notoriety, the former Coordinator of the Comptroller General of Customs strike force for zone A became known for his desire to erase that notorious stigma. So far, he has shown enough dedication to that cause that he is now a yardstick for measuring the performance of not just other appointees but also for the present administration itself. So much, so that if other Unit Controllers of the service were as committed as he is, Nigerians would be sleeping with their eyes closed by now. With Yahaya’s performance, it would not come as a surprise if he ends as a Comptroller someday.
D.C. Yahaya’s efforts have not come without recognition. Since assumption of office, the Unit has been credited with several monumental seizures of contraband goods within its command with Duty paid value.
The Federal Operations Unit Zone A, Ikeja Lagos has been turned from a toothless bulldog to a vicious hound. All these achievements were made possible with the efforts of the Deputy Comptroller of Customs, Alhaji Yahaya B.U, who is the current Customs area Controller in charge of the Unit. Several awards, local and international have come his way.
But it remains obvious that the Zone A was far from being completely out of the woods, the Service yearned for a new impetus to be able to reclaim her lost glory and once again reposition itself as a leading preventive force in the service with unambiguous aspirations to become a truly global brand. To be able to do this the Service required a new form of strategic leadership, a modern focused and goal driven helmsman capable of rising above the drudgery imposed by a pristine elephantine smuggling order.
To put it mildly, the service required the infection of a further dose of fresh ideas, new thinking, new tools and new ways of doing things, including redefinition of its vision and mission.
From this standpoint, there is a sense in which it may be argued that Deputy Comptroller, Yahaya’s emergence on the scene is hardly fortuitious, His stature and pedigree matched the moment and this has provided an added impetus to deepen the reform process initiated by his predecessor.
By Kalu Okpo [pmw-magazine]

Taaah


My neighbour bought 50 bags of rice from her dealer at iyanaipaja two years back ....she has never bought rice in her 6 years of business from any other source but the vendor at iyanaipaja yet a team from this unit seized her vehicle and the goods at mangoro claiming she bought contraband rice inside Nigeria not even close to the border..till the date her vehicle was not released.