Customs Boss, Adeniyi Tasks Officers’ on Health Fitness, Commissions Magnificent Sport Arena at MMA Customs .. Applauds Comptroller MT Awe’s Leadership Endeavours             

Customs Boss, Adeniyi Tasks Officers on Health Fitness, Commissions Magnificent Sport Arena at MMA Customs             

… Applauds Comptroller MT Awe’s Leadership Endeavours           

‘Health, they say is Wealth’ as the leadership of Murtala Mohammed Airport Cargo Command (MMAC) of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), has given priority to the physical and mental development of its officers and men, as well as stakeholders and patrons of the command with the construction of an ultra-modern sports arena at the command’s premises.                  

The Sport Center which conspicuously sat at the entrance of the command’s headquarters in NAHCO, Ikeja, and comprising of sports such as fitness house with modern equipment, table tennis, lawn tennis, others, was however named after the Comptroller General of the Service, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi.                

CGC Adeniyi, Giving his speech at the commissioning Exercise

The CGC who was on tour to Lagos in various ‘on duty’ capacities and functions, was however physically on ground for the commissioning, as he praised the Customs Area Controller (CAC), Comptroller Micheal Toyin Awe, for his leadership fortunes and initiatives at the hitherto highly spontaneous command, which before now was largely characterized with some traders noted with ignoble antics and ferocious attitudes, a trademark that have faded out overtime due to evolvement of customs’ operational mechanism, made best by the deployment of CACs with impeccable leadership traits to man affairs at the command.                                

Comptroller MT Awe, CAC, MMA Command, NCS, under whose watch the Arena was constructed

During the commissioning exercise at the Command’s headquarters on Tuesday November 26, 2024, the CGC, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR implored officers and men including stakeholders of Command to attach value to their lifestyle and health.

While expressing delights for the opportunity to commission the new project named in his honour, the customs boss commended the Comptroller Awe for the laudable initiative, as he noted that the sport canter is meant to encourage all to live a healthy lifestyle.                       

In his words as contained in his speech, “It is indeed a very humbling feeling for me, that I have been considered fit to have this sport arena, named after me.

Adeniyi test running one of the sports at the arena

“I want to thank the Customs Area Controller and all members of his team who had brought up this initiative. I must also express my sincere gratitude to all our stakeholders whose collaboration and cooperation with their generosity has been leveraged to get this project completed. I am, indeed, very, very grateful.

“Those who are familiar with your operations here, knows that this (MMAC) is not an easy tough for the lean lever. They know that historically, when you are posted here, is like you are a warrior and you are going to war.

“Sometimes when you come to war in this place, the manifestation of your victory might be that you are able to gain some revenue and then you compromise on trade facilitation and with hard experiences and we have examples of those kind of Controllers here in those days        

“Sometimes you come in here and you put a lot of emphasis on trade facilitation, you just want things to move, but then revenue would take a backstage.      

“But in the last one year or thereabouts, we’ve had an Area Controller that has managed effectively, a balance between facilitating trade and generating revenue.

“I congratulate you for what you have done together with your team, of course no Controller can do it alone.

“You must have surrounded yourself by some closed associates and allies to achieve what you had achieved, and I congratulate you.

“You have put in place this magnificent sport arena. The quarter-guard that was upgraded was in that same position when we joined the service in 1990. And you have come up with this initiative idea, as you are about to leave the service, you could conveniently have left it, that well, this is how I meet it but you decided to commit resources and upgrade it.

“This is really very, very commendable and I commend all your lieutenants for been part of this selfless service. Everywhere we go, we must endeavour to live it better than we met it.

“This is what Controller Awe has done, and I pray that God will also be with you and bless you in all your future endeavours.

“I have discovered that this project is not going to serve

Awe, it is not going to serve the Controller General as it is going to serve the stakeholders that is going to leave behind in this command.

“Importantly, this is a spot center and it is meant to encourage to live a healthy life. Lagos is a very hectic city, when you work in Lagos, it is always very difficult for you to maintain a healthy balance between life and work.                         

Table Tennis sport at the arena

“All of what we are bothered about every time is that whether the PAAR has been issued, whether the airway bill has been captured, whether the duty has been centered, whether inspection has been done.

“Most of the time, what we do is we compromise our health. We hardly listen to

 what our body is telling us. Everything is about what you are going to get from these declarations.

“This is an opportunity for you now to rededicate your life and ensure that you maintain a balance between the demands, the rigours of life in Lagos and that of your health.

“I commend the project for effective use by both officers and all stakeholders. I can assure you that any time I have found myself in Lagos like I did today, i will make the best use of this sport centre”, Adeniyi enthused.

Meanwhile, in his earlier opening speech, Customs Area Controller of the Command and the host, Comptroller Michael Toyin Awe appreciated the Controller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR for the privilege and opportunity given him to serve in the command.

He also expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the command stakeholders, the Customs licensed agents, freight forwarders, terminal operators, and others whose generous contributions brought the project to life.

The newly reconstructed Quarter Guard

Awe noted that the inauguration of the sport arena facilities are testament of robust engagement with their stakeholders.              

According to his speech, “Our collective efforts reflects the power of unity and the profound impact of sheer responsibility. Explaining the journey of how the project began, the CAC said the initial approved proposal by the Adeniyi led management to build an officer’s mess at the command premises as initiated by his led management team was later converted to the sport arena as a corporate social responsibility, through superior conviction and with full understanding of the Abuja high command.                   

“Unfortunately, further consultation clearly indicates that the construction of such facilities within this environment would be underutilized.

“Consequently, the Command quickly requested to re-propose the initial approval of the officer’s mess to sport arena which was graciously granted and the construction commenced immediately.

“This sport arena is more than just a physical structure. It represents a beacon of unity, awareness, and progress.

Cross session of stakeholders, participants present at the event

“For the officers and men of this command, whose responsibility demand physical endurance, mental alertness and teamwork, this arena would serve as a vital tool for recreation, fitness, comradeship, it would also serve as a critical tool to enhance both individual and organization effectiveness.

“The construction of this sport facility also demonstrate the profound ways in which partnership between the private and the public sectors can possibly impact our community.

“This facility would not just serve the personnel of Murtala Muhammed Area Command but also be a symbol of our collaboration between stakeholders and foster growth, trust, and the sense of community.

“To the shareholders, your contributions go beyond funding and supply of bricks and mortar. It is a lasting legacy of investment in the well-being of our personnel.

As you proceed with today’s events, let it be a reminder to us all that greatness is not achieved in isolation, success is built on teamwork, collaboration, and perseverance

“This facility would foster this quality, not only among Customs personnel but also among everyone it touches.

He however urge officers and men of his command to fully embrace the gift, utilize it to sharpen their physical fitness, build stronger tides with colleagues and other users.

The CAC admonished his officers to recharge their spirit for the important work they do daily. While asking the stakeholders to let it be a stepping stone to greater collaborations in future, he said “together, we continue to create project that will live lasting legacy for the betterment of our society.

In conclusion, the elated CAC expressed his profound gratitude to the Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR and his management team for the unweaving support in granting their requests promptly. He also thanked the command’s stakeholders, who played role in making this vision a reality, from the contributors to the builders, as well sister agencies for their unending collaboration.

He however did not forget to express his special appreciation to the officers and men of Murtala Mohammed Airport Command for their dedication to duty.