Against the backdrop of an increase in importation of highly- restricted Tramadol drugs from India, Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Col Handed Alli (rtd) has said that the service will soon sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with India in order to check importation of illicit, banned and regulated drugs into Nigeria.
The Customs boss stated this in Lagos last week when he inspected 40 containers of Tramadol which were intercepted at the Apapa ports command.
Recall that a total of 53 containers of the drugs were intercepted at the Apapa and Tin Can Island ports last week.
The Customs boss noted that already, discussions are in top gear with the ambassador of India in Nigeria to see how both countries can have a mutual understanding that would enable the Nigeria Customs Service to have foreknowledge of every import from India into Nigeria.
Alli said "interestingly, last week I was with the Ambassador of India and we were talking about fast-tracking the MoU for the Customs mutual agreement, if we sign this, it would enable us have timely information on all export or import to Nigeria and vice versa. As of today, we haven't gotten that agreement signed, so we cannot insist on anything except what they oblige us".
Alli assured that once the agreement is signed, it becomes mandatory on the Customs Administration of India to provide information on export meant for Nigeria.
"We are working hard and very soon we would get that agreement signed, but for now we have to rely on our intelligence", he said.
The Customs boss also hinted that the service is about to announce a new welfare package for all officers.
He however charged the personnel to be internally motivated, according to him, internal motivation is more important than welfare packages.
"Since I came into the Nigeria Customs Service about three years now, my concern has been about the welfare of my people. For any change to happen, if you don't put the people first, you are going to fail", he added.
"We are doing everything, we are working with the government and we have gotten to a stage where not too far from now, Customs officers will smile because welfare packages would be coming to them"
"Motivation is key to a lot of things, you can achieve a lot through motivation, but motivation fails with time, if you don't motivate yourself internally, no matter the amount of salary that is increased, there would come a time that your budget will overcome it."
"If for instance you are being paid N100,000 and we increased it to N200,000, for the first three months it would be like big money, but when you begin to adjust your budget, it would absorb the money and you would begin to look for more"
"Internal motivation is more important than anything else, if you are internally motivated, you would continue to do your best no matter the circumstance and this is what I expect from my Customs officers" he said.
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