Customs boss tasks journalists on agenda setting for enhancing maritime growth

Bashir Adeniyi, the Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), has urged Maritime Journalists to continue setting agenda for accelerated growth in the sector.

Adeniyi made the appeal during the 10th seminar for maritime journalists and inauguration of the Centre for Maritime Media and Capacity Development held at BWC Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos on Wednesday.

Adeniyi, who was represented by an Assistant Comptroller General of Customs (ACG), Mohammed Babandede, urged the media to always reflect the shortcomings of the NCS in its reportage to enable it improve on its services.

“Our doors are open for engagement, collaboration and partnership with the media as well as our stakeholders to enable us achieve our core mandate of trade facilitation and suppression of smuggling,” Adeniyi added.

The Executive Secretary, Nigeria Shippers’ Council (NSC), Dr Pius Akutah, in his keynote address, said the media had contributed to greater transparency within the maritime industry landscape and ensured competitiveness.

Akutah, who was represented by the Director, Special Duties of the Nigeria Shippers’ Council, Mr Moses Abere, said that maritime journalism required deeper and digital knowledge to achieve greater success in the Maritime Industry.

He enjoined journalists to always cultivate the culture of appreciation, accuracy, balance, and integrity which was needed for journalism practice.

Speaking on the single window policy of the Federal Government, Dr Collins Farinto, a former Acting President, Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents( ANLCA), said the policy would solve a lot of problems, especially for customs brokers.

He expressed optimism that the system would be channelled electronically, trade would be streamlined, and the single window policy would boost revenue and allow only single entry point.

Farinto said other benefits of the single window included efficiency and transparency .

The National Public Relations Officer, Nigeria Customs Service, Deputy Comptroller of Customs, Dr Abdullahi Maiwada, threw light on the topic of the seminar, “Data Journalism in Maritime.”

Maiwada said that data was key to using analytics to tell bigger stories, adding that data was critical in both journalism and public relations.

He said further that data analytics was broad, while data analysis examined past events to draw conclusions.

Maiwada also identified data analytics as descriptive, diagnostic, predictive and prescriptive.

The National Public Relations Officer of Customs explained that data enablers usually helped in analysing situations and also in decision making.

Maiwada urged maritime journalists to embrace artificial intelligence given the reality that it had come to stay.

In his contribution, A Maritime Lawyer, Dr Emeka Akabogu (SAN), also the Chairman of the occasion, commended the vast contribution of both the stakeholders and the media in ensuring prompt discussion of Maritime issues.

Akabogu also commended the activities of customs in facilitating legitimate trade, saying that the NCS’ activities had enhanced customs efficiency and increase in cargo volume.

He urged the media to explore the centre for the betterment of their qualities and for dynamic reportage.

Speaking on the Launch of the Maritime Media and Capacity Development Centre, the Managing Director, First Mediacon Network Ltd, Mr Sesan Onileimo, said it was a turning point for an industry long in need of a structured capacity building institution.

Onileimo disclosed that the Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adeniyi; Chief Executive Officer of Nigeria Shippers Council, Dr Pius Akutah; Capt. Wareddi Enisuoh, amongst others constituted the personalities steering the media and capacity development centre.

The event featured presentation of awards to the Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi; Chief Executive Officer of Shippers Council, Pius Akutah; and the National Public Relations Officer of Nigeria Customs Service, Dr. Abdullah Maiwada.