The CG, Dr. Adeniyi walking down to the main event area with WMC CAC
Story by Dili Utomi.
The Comptroller-General of Customs Dr. Adewale Adeniyi while on a working visit to Lagos Wednesday made a stop to open the Wale Adeniyi Sports Arena (WASA) situated around the general area of the Western Marine Command, Nigeria Customs Service.
The event was part of the continuation of a flurry of activities that has seen Dr. Adeniyi over the past few days visit Kebbi State for the official border opening ceremony at the Tsamiya border and visits to several other Commands.
The CG commissioning the jetty.
The Customs Area Controller of the Western Marine Command, Comptroller Patrick Ntadi had used the occassion to buttress the performance of the core of the Command’s core mandates which is the protection of the national economy through anti-smuggling enforcement.
Comptroller Ntadi had said “WASA is a practical expression of our belief that security is not only about enforcement, patrols, and interceptions. It is also about prevention. It is about giving our youths alternatives to crime, restiveness, drug abuse, and other social vices. When we provide safe and positive spaces for recreation, mentorship, and healthy competition, we are investing in peace, stability, and the future of our communities”.
CG Adeniyi flanked to the left by Compt. Ntadi while commissioning the arena.
The sports arena is well equipped with facilities for a five-a-side football, basketball as well as table tennis .
Aside the sporting facility, the project also has a redesigned flower bed with a block work. The paint and inscriptions attractively introduce the onlooker with ‘Western Marine Command, Nigeria Customs Service’.
The CG in his remark at the ceremony told the audience that “In as much as the NCS tries to provide facilities such as the ones being commissioned today for officers, we are also mindful that our host communities also need such facilities. Therefore, it is my pleasure to commission this facility which is open to the immediate community here”.
The occassion also offered a veritable opportunity for the CG to commission the newly built jetty for the Command.
The commissioning was eventually carried out after which some teenagers engaged in five-a-side football. Some others took part in basketball while the CG himself engaged another officer in a game of table tennis.
The CG welcoming the kids about to play basketball.
Answering a question on Border re-opening in an interview, the CG had said that “Six years ago, borders were closed, 2 years ago, some were selectively opened but because of the strategic nature of the Tsamiya border, we had to open it”.
On the matter of transit cargoes, he went further to add that “What we are doing now is just to discharge our responsibilities as a transit point for cargoes moving from one litoral country through to a landlocked country in accordance with International conventions. Of course we also know that there are other cargoes that are discharged at our Ports with final destination being Niger, Chad or Cameroon”.
The Western Marine Command CAC also answered a few questions posed by the press on the day’s event. He said “There is a department in the Service called ‘Customs Cares’, the Service believes that crimes can be prevented by providing, ammenities such as these”.
The CG engaging in a game of table tennis.
Comptroller Ntadi noted that “The immediate community is expected to be very much, positively impacted. The essence is to grow and nurture talents here. There is also a clinic that is opened to the kids who these facilities are also meant for, kids between the ages of eleven and fifteen. Four teams from the community have already been registered with us”. He concluded.
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