On assumption of duty in June , 2023 , the new Controller General, Nigeria Customs Service NCS, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi has given much needed attention not only to professionalism of the paramilitary agency through training and re-training, and also charged with the security of it’s boarders and sea ports , but welfare of it’s workforce.
This ranges from a befitting accomodation with fully secured and serene environment, that will enabled the officers and men engaged in the discharge of their official functions.
The Service embarked on massive renovation and rehabilitation of it’s existing estates scattered around the country and occupied by officers , both at rank and file, intermediate and senior officers.
Few months into the office in line with his determination to continue to provide an enabling environment for maximum and adequate performance, Adeniyi had kickstarted the process of providing more opportunities for the service through engagements and partnerships with Banks, Modern estate developers of international standards, to construct 5,009 housing units ranging from one, two , three and four bedrooms including semi- detachables across the country, which included the cosmopolitan Lagos, Kaduna, Asaba, Abuja the nation’s city, Port Harcourt as well as Ibadan, the Oyo state capital leading in the flagship housing program initiated by the current leadership under Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, the NCS Boss recently in Ibadan.
The flagship Housing program of the new NCS, covering the six geopolitical zones is been co- financed by Cooperative Mortgage Bank CMB, high profile estate developers in the category of Modern Shelter and Brains and Hammers to ensure not only the proliferation of accomodation for NCS personel, but quality houses that will be utilised for decades.
The NCS practice which does not include owner occupier provision, with the current arrangements under the new CG, will encourage not only befitting accomodation during their service year, but after retiring from service in line with the mass housing policy arrangements of the National Housing Policy, NHP.
The initial 5,009 units of all ranges which is expected to increase in the course of time, will also be an opportunity for custom officers to become house owners before their exit from service, that will douse the precarious situations of leaving the provided accomodation after retirement from service.
The new Housing Policy been muted by the NCS had also given both local and international estate developers to leverage on both the Cooperative Society and other organised groups within the Custom Service to attract the attention of officers and men in owning a structure before their exit.
The approval of the current NCS Boss, Adewale Bashir Adeniyi to allow the Cooperative Society of the NCS partner for the provision of initial 90 units of houses by Shelter Afrique now Shelter Afrique Development Bank, an international estate developers and agent of high repute in the country, was a right step in the right direction.
This laudable moves will not only reduced to the barest minimum, the problems of accomodation for the officers and men of the Service, but provide an enablement to own houses of different categories while in service.
The current move powered by the NCS was a right step in the right direction capable of boosting the morale and encouraging optimum performance of officers and men across the country.
With the initial 5,009 units , it is glaring that in the course of the years , profileration of choice accomodation for the officers and men of the NCS under the leadership of Bashir Adewale Adeniyi will not only be guaranteed, but improved to the global standards.
Written by ABUBAKAR YUSUF, A Public Affairs Analyst on yus.abubakar3@gmail.com.
