By Anthony Nwachukwu
The newly appointed Controller of the Federal Operations Unit Zone C (FOUC) of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Compt. Michael Ugbagu, has assumed duty at the headquarters in Owerri.
Ugbagu, who took over from Compt. Kayode Kolade as the 28th controller of the unit in a simple ceremony over the weekend, pleaded for cooperation and promised to sustain and improve the trade legacies he inherited.
“We will ensure compliance with the current import and export guidelines, using intelligence and technology to drive our operations,” a statement from the Command Public Relations Officer, Mr. Jerry Attah, quoted Ugbagu to say.
“There will be a watertight security against smuggling activities across the zone. Smugglers will be discouraged, frustrated and made uncomfortable, thereby making smuggling, duty evasion and warehousing of smuggled goods unattractive within the zone.
“This is an onerous responsibility and I will not let the service down.”
To this end, he called for support and cooperation from the general public to succeed in his new assignment.
Ugbagu thanked the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, and his entire management team for the trust and confidence reposed in him to pilot the affairs of the unit.
He further thanked his predecessor, Compt. Kolade, for his “highly commendable achievements” while he held sway and pledged continued compliance with established guidelines in discharging his duties.