Customs commission 21 blocks of flats for officers in Lagos

THE Comptroller General of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), Col. Hameed Ali on Thursday commissioned 21 blocks of flat in okokomaiko area of Lagos State for its officers and men.

The Customs CG stated that the blocks of flats will go a long way in solving the accommodation challenge confronting many of the Customs officers posted to serve in Lagos.

According to the Customs CG who was represented by the Assistant Comptroller General of Customs in charge of Zone A, Kaycee Ekekezie, “In line with the reform agenda sweeping across the Customs service, we understand that to get the best out of our officers, we need to house them. We need to make them comfortable. We cannot allow our officers and men to be distracted by the high rent of accommodation that people experience in Lagos.

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“That is why we are commissioning these 21 two-bedroom blocks of flats, all suited. We will be upgrading the perimeter fence to ensure adequate security here.

“Zone A in Lagos houses three-quarter of the entire workforce of the Customs. So the CGC will be building more structures to accommodate officers that are still squatting with their colleagues.”

When asked why the choice of Okokomaiko since its a transit route for smugglers who operate in Seme area, the Customs Area Controller of the Federal Operations Unit, Zone A, Compt. Mohammed Aliyu stated that living in the midst of an area where smugglers operate will only send a strong signal that the Customs mean business.

“That we have accommodation for our officers here means we will know those involved in smuggling better. Our presence here will end up securing these areas from smuggling activities,” Compt. Aliyu stated.