By Uzor Odigbo
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has approved the establishment of additional marine units from the existing Western and Eastern Commands.
The marine units now have a total of four headquarters from the initial two of Lagos and Port Harcourt respectively.
The additional marine units with headquarters are Makurdi and Lokoja.
The Marine Unit created include:North Eastern Marine Command from Eastern Marine Command with Headquarters at Makurdi and North Western Marine Command from Western Marine Command with Headquarters at Lokoja.
A circular signed by the Deputy Comptroller-General of Customs (DCG) in charge of Finance, Admin and Technical Services, DCG Aminu Dangaladima, said that the approval for the unbundling and creation of the marine units which were among the eight area commands was granted at the 50th Regular Meeting of the Nigeria Customs Service Board held on Tuesday 21st May, 2019.
He said the creation of more commands was aimed at enhancing administrative convenience and boost revenue generation of the service.
According to the circular, the other new area commands created include; Murtala Mohammed International Airport Area Command from MMAC with Headquarters at MMIA, Ogun II Area Command from Ogun Area Command with Headquarters at Abeokuta, and Kaduna Area Command from Kaduna/Katsina Area Command with Headquarters at Kaduna.
Others are Kebbi Area Command from Sokoto/Kebbi/Zamfara Area Command with Headquarters at Birnin-Kebbi, Kwara Area Command from Niger/Kwara/Kogi Area Command with Headquarters at Ilorin, and Port-Harcourt Oil and Gas FTZ Area Command from PHC I Area Command with Headquarters at Onne.