Customs Area 1: Compt. Atuluku Visits Airport Omagwa, Harps on Continued Synergy to Attract Cargo increase

By Bon Peters

 

The continued lull in Cargo aircraft landing at the Port Harcourt International airport Omagwa has attracted the attention of the the new Customs Area 1, Controller, Comptroller  Salamatu Atuluku, leading to her maiden official visit to the customs Unit at the international airport, Omagwa,Rivers State Tuesday.

 

The familiarization visit afforded the Customs Area 1, boss the opportunity to interact with the officers and men of the Nigeria customs Service Airport unit, sister government agencies, the Airport management and the clearing and forwarding agents on the need to collaborate to attract more patronage to the airport.

 

In her remarks, Comptroller S Atuluku stated that it was with great pleasure that she stood before them, insisting that the visit would provide the stakeholders with a valuable platform to strengthen bonds, share perspectives, and renew their collective commitment to ensuring the smooth operations of the airport, which she described as "such a vital gateway to our nation."

 

Comptroller Atuluku expressed her deepest appreciation to the Comptroller General of Customs Bashir

Adewale Adeniyi MFR and members of his management team for their outstanding leadership and unwavering support.

 

She noted that their vision has continued to reposition the Nigeria Customs Service for greater efficiency, transparency, and effectiveness, adding that it was on that same vision “that guides our actions at the Area Commands, and it is the driving force behind our presence here today."

 

Speaking further, she commended the officers and men of the Nigeria Customs Service working at the airport for their hard work and resilience insisting that day after day, they discharge their duties under challenging circumstances, but  continue to uphold the values of service with discipline, and integrity.

 

She encouraged them to remain steadfast, emphasizing that the nation depends on their diligence.

 

Compt. Atuluku also extended her heartfelt gratitude to the esteemed stakeholders, partners, airlines, ground handlers, agents, and operators within the airport,   for their cooperation and partnership even as she equally recognized the presence of other sister government agencies at the event noting that the Nigeria Customs Service placed high value on inter-agency cooperation, because according to her, "no single agency can achieve success in isolation."

 

She reminded them that their shared mandate of safeguarding the nation, promoting trade, and ensuring safety at the airport required synergy, mutual respect, and joint responsibility, promising to deepen collaboration with all of them.

 

"As we move forward, let us strengthen the spirit of teamwork that binds us. With mutual trust, transparency, and innovation, there is no doubt that we can collectively surmount challenges and set new benchmarks of success" she emphasized.

 

She reiterated that guided by the vision of the Comptroller General of Customs and driven by the agency's common responsibility to the nation, she was confident that they would achieve greater feats.

 

She therefore, thanked them for their warm reception, cooperation and continued dedication praying that their collective efforts would yield results that would be a source of pride to the Service, agencies, and the nation.

 

Also in his emotion laden speech, the Deputy Comptroller, in charge of Airport unit of the Nigeria customs Service, DC SE Ntuen , who said he would be retiring soon, praised the Customs Area 1 controller, stating that he was satisfied with her leadership style.

 

DC Ntuen, noted that despite the short time he has worked with Compt. Atuluku, he has learnt several lessons that would guide him in his future endeavours.

 

He praised the Nigeria customs Service for giving him the pedestal which he said helped him to grow.

 

He added that he reached the apex in his career but has to leave as according to him, "my time is up."

 

"I will forever remain grateful to the entire management and staff of the Nigeria customs Service and especially to the officers and men I have worked with at the airport and other places.I will carry the banner of  Nigeria Customs service anywhere  I go because it has made me fulfilled as a person and I enjoin the officers and men that I am  living behind to endeavour to take the Service to a great height "  DC Ntuen stated.

 

Also speaking, the Port Harcourt International airport manager, Mrs. Ifesinachi Ezike, represented by the Airport Chief of Security,(ACoS ) Chief, Chiaka S Ukaegbu who welcomed the Customs Area 1, Port Harcourt controller, vowed  that the airport authority will do anything possible to  help her  succeed in her mandate.

 

Ezike, who also doubled as the Regional manager South - south decried the low patronage of Port Harcourt International airport by Cargo airlines despite availability of functional  and state of the art facilities at the airport.

 

She hinted that the airport authority has been making frantic efforts to woo some Cargo airlines to come and make the airport viable even as she promised to make operations at the airport seamless both for cargoes and passengers.

 

On the relationship with customs, the airport chief stated that the authority would contribute its own quota, ensure synergy and collaboration so as to return the airport to glory.

 

"We have state of the art handling facilities but they are underutilized. We also have trained manpower and our terminal building is one of the best, we can handle large volumes of freight and Cargo operations." Mrs. Ezike said.

 

Meanwhile, Mr Charles Onyema, Port Harcourt International Airport chapter chairman, Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) has called for stakeholders' commitment to ensure that the airport regains its lost glory.

 

He made the call while receiving the new Area 1 Customs boss, during her maiden visit to Port Harcourt international airport Omagwa.

 

The ANLCA chieftain disclosed his member’s willingness to collaborate with her for effective Cargo clearance at the airport insisting that all hands should be on deck to make the airport work efficiently, adding that such would ensure more revenue for the airport authority, the Nigeria customs Service and the agents among others.

 

Onyema said that such collaboration would help in addressing the menace and also boost revenue for the region.

 

“Our leaders have refused to draw the attention of relevant authorities to help tackle encumbrances militating against smooth cargo operations. This silence is unhealthy for the economic well-being of the regions.” he emphasized

 

Sister agencies that were on hand to receive the customs Area 1, Controller, Comptroller Atuluku include, Nigeria Air force, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Immigration, Marine Police. Others were Terminal Operators and critical stakeholders.

APC chieftain blasts Sowore for using his platform to defame

An APC chieftain in Rivers State, Chief Tony Okocha has condemned the owner of Sahara Reporters, Omoyele Sowore, for using his platform to propagate deliberate lies, propaganda, and attempts to defame under the disguise of “activism.”

Chief Okocha in a statement titled “Sowore; The Unbridled Razzmatazz of a Notorious Crisis Merchant”, noted that, “this is exactly what Omoyele Sowore, publisher of Sahara Reporters has perfected over the years.”

 

Excerpt of the statement is here below:

 

In every democracy, criticism is welcome, but what Nigerians must reject are deliberate lies, propaganda, and attempts to defame under the disguise of “activism.” This is exactly what Omoyele Sowore, publisher of Sahara Reporters has perfected over the years. .

Sowore has built his entire career on lies. His Sahara Reporters platform is notorious for publishing fabricated stories and half-truths, often used as tools for blackmail and extortion.

Recently, Sowore launched another wave of falsehoods against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, and the Honourable Minister of the FCT, Chief Barr. Nyesom Wike CON. These baseless allegations are nothing more than the bitter rantings of a man rejected by Nigerians at the polls and drowning in political irrelevance.

What an infradig for a sane citizen of a country to outburst that the President or whatever nomenclature used to refer to the highest office holder, as a "Criminal”

Nigerians must stand up against this rascal and nitwit desiring to rub the integrity of the country on the mud, rather than give heed to or yield to the antics of a serial merchant of discord and purveyor of "non~sequitous" half truths.

Omoyele Sowore is best understood as a blackmailer whose stock in trade include blatant lies, forgery, and baseless incitements

To cut the chase, it becomes apposite to continue to expose the dark side of Sowore and call for his immediate arrest and prosecution.

 

1. Sowore As A Merchant Of Falsehood And Blackmail Journalism:

 

Omoyele Sowore is not a journalist; he only relishes in peddling fabricated stories.

His "Sahara Reporters" platform has for years been accused of beehive of "blackmail journalism" publishing malicious reports to malign reputations and allegedly demanding settlements to retract them.

Just recently, the Nigerian Police charged him with forgery and false publication for circulating a fake police signal designed to undermine national security. This is not activism. It is outright criminality.

 

2. Sowore's Criminal Charges Under The Cyber Crime Act:

 

Sowore currently stands trial for cybercrime and defamation. The DSS filed multiple charges against him for transmitting false, inciting and malicious messages against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on social media.

His deliberate lies are aimed at inciting public unrest, sowing distrust and discord in institutions with the poisonous intention to destabilize Nigeria. A man standing trial for such grave offences ought to rein in himself and consider himself as lacking in moral imperative to insult credible leaders who are working extremely hard to build the nation.

 

3.  Sowore's #Revolutionnow: A Thinly Veiled Coup Attempt:

 

Nigerians remember clearly the #RevolutionNow protests led by Sowore in 2019. He openly called for “days of rage” to topple a democratically elected government. That reckless campaign was nothing but an attempted insurrection, unwittingly packaged as activism.

No genuine democrat calls for the violent overthrow of a legitimate government. Sowore’s actions then and his continued incitement now prove that he is more of an anarchist and a psychopath than a patriot.

 

4. Sowore's Dubious Finances and Shady Sponsorship:

 

Questions continue to trail the source of Sowore’s wealth and the funding behind his political campaigns. Allegations of money laundering and foreign sponsorship remain unanswered. Nigerians have every reason to believe that Sowore acts as a hired mercenary, attacking respected leaders while cashing out from his paymasters.

His refusal to provide transparency on his finances only deepens suspicion that his so-called activism is driven by profit, not principle.

 

5. Sowore’s Hypocrisy and Political Failure:

 

Despite his noisy, nauseous and notorious presence on social media, Sowore has consistently budded the very low rung of the ladder at the ballot box.

To put differently, his repeated Presidential bids have ended in humiliation, with laughable vote counts that reveal Nigerians do not trust him with leadership.

Alas, what leadership does he seek? Is it leadership over sane, sound and knowledgeable people or that of layabouts? What an infantile ambition and a wild goose chase?

How his rejection by the people of Nigeria at the polls that he willy-nilly ventures into, has turned him into a bitter critic of every government, regardless of effervescent performance, as in the case of President Tinubu and Minister Wike, is unthinkable.

Sowore represents the opposite of Democracy – Autocracy, a Party Chairman and Presidential candidate at the same time.

 

6. He Who Asserts Carries The Burden Or Onus Of Proof:

 

This principle is trite. It is sheer absurdity for Sowore to dump unsubstantiated allegations of criminal acquisitions on Nigerians without a scintilla of empirical or rational facts.

This style aimed at the jugulars of Mr. President and Minister Wike is dead on arrival.

Nigerians are interested in concrete evidence and facts, not wiled conjectures with the clear intentions to blackmail.

 

Provide cogent and verifiable facts leading to certain apodethic conclusions and we join to escalate it to high heavens.

Ad~hominem or ad~misericodia are sheer fallacies, no matter how beautifully they are couched.

 

President Tinubu is implementing his 10~points agenda under the theme "Renewed Hope Agenda". The economy is booming! Never in the history of Nigeria had over a trillion naira shared by the three tiers of Government.

Naira now wields influence and stabilised against the hitherto doldrums before the Dollar and other hard currencies.

 

Road infrastructure is verifiable. The trillion naira Lagos/Calabar expressway which pundits like Sowore dismissed as a well~nigh impossibility, is on the fast track. The blind can see it.

The Educational sector is better than what it was predating 2023. Indigent students now smile to schools via the Students loan largesse of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Over a million Nigerians receive monthly stipends as one of the empowerment programmes of Mr. President.

 

The Agricultural sector is booming. Farms and farmers are provided with farm implements and loans to aid more than subsistence farming.

 

Security is looking up under President Tinubu. No doubts, there are pockets of security challenges but they are responded to as priority.

It should be noted that security challenges are not akin to our clime and didn't stem from President Tinubu's administration. It is a global concern. 

Today, just today, President Trump of America signed an Executive order declaring a certain dissident group operating in America, as "Domestic Terrorist group”

 

Minister Wike of the Federal Capital Territory, who is an Agent of Mr. President, is transforming the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja with unmatched energy. Abuja can now favorably compete with capital cities of the first and second world countries.

 

A little note and passing glance on HE, E.N Wike trajectory

 

(1) Like him, hate him or maintain neutrality,  you cannot but agree with the fact that NYESOM EZENWO WIKE (NEW) is a profound development agent.

(2) He is a goal getter

(3)His curiosity for knowledge and learning drove him to study Law at the University of Science and Technology (As it then was), after graduating from the University of Port-Harcourt where he studied Political science. He hails from a comfortable middle class family background yet chose to be largely independent.

(4) He saw money at a very young age as a result of personal endeavours and outshined his peers.

(5) He was first among equals to drive a Mercedes Benz and maintained a rich fleet of cars.

(6) Nyesom Ezenwo Wike at a very young lad, took interest in politics and functioned as Party Agent to candidates dating back to the era of NPN and NPP.

(7)He joined the PDP at the inception of the party in 1998.

(8)He contested the Local Government election as an underdog but trounced giants to become the Chairman of Obio/Akpor LGA

(9) He was the first to break the jinx of one tenure Chairmanship of the Obio/Akpor LGA, largely because of performance, hard work and divine providence.

(10)He won back to back, best performing Local Government Chairman Award as instituted by the Rivers State Government and won official and personal laurels therefrom.

(11) Ezenwo Nyesom Wike is "Consistently Consistent " Not "Consistently inconsistent".

(12)He had remained with the PDP from inception/formation till date. He never bordered with the rough contours typical of internal politics, but elected to keep faith with the party under thick and thin.

(13) He was appointed Chief of Staff Government House under HE, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, as then Governor of Rivers State in 2007.

This appointment was one supported by All CRA supporters because of the overt and covert roles he played to enthrone that Government after God. He turned down mouth watery overtures. He resisted threats, humiliations and intimidations, one of them was the dissolution of councils, six months before the expiration of tenure.

(14) He became the Director General of campaign to usher in a second tenure and effectively delivered his candidate by landslide.

(15)He was one of the nominees from Rivers State for Ministerial appointment.

(16) He was appointed and assigned to Minister of State for Education and later became the Supervising Minister of Education, upon the resignation of the then substantive Minister.

(17) His achievements both as Minister of State for Education and the Supervising Minister of Education, still stand as monuments.

(18) He contested for the Governorship of Rivers State under the hard nose of a Governor of then APC, was desirous to enthrone a successor.

(19) He won the election under the platform of the PDP with a landslide vote and became Governor of Rivers State

(20) He returned back for second tenure as Governor amidst heavy undulations and pressures from an APC controlled Federal government.

(21) His achievements as Governor of Rivers earned him many cliche and awards including "Mr Project" "Mr Quality Project" by no less the person of the Vice President who was on ground to commission a horde of projects executed by Wike's Government in Rivers State.

(22)HE, Ezenwo Nyesom Wike won the prestigious Award of Best Governor on infrastructure development.

(23) Not done yet, Wike threw his hat into the rings and battled to become the Presidential candidate of the PDP but finished as runner up.

(24) NEW is notable for his stance. He doesn't vacillate between opinions.

(25) He is predictable on issues of politics

(26) He stands on principles.

(27) He is sold out to friendship and doesn't betray.

(28)He is vociferous, bold and fearless.

(29) He didn't hide his preference and support for Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the APC, when his party, PDP, undermined the principles of justice, equity and fairplay.

(30) He engineered the breaking of a long-standing jinx of PDP dominance in Presidential elections in Rivers State.

(31) He does not cry war and do peace.

(32) He is thorough and profound both at work and home.

(33) Etc.

 

Just a tit bit of who His Excellency, Chief Barr. Ezenwo Nyesom Wike CON, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory is, so that he is no longer viewed from the lens of a neophyte or green horn or a beneficiary of undeserved goodwill or a pauper.

Let's turn back to the main issues in point.

In my view, the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ought to be applauded for thus a short while it has been.

Those who for political reasons propagate the "Hunger Revolution", are too late for breakfast. Nigerians know their unsavory antecedents and will never fall for their childish and cheap chicanery

 

Conclusion:

 

Much as Omoyele Sowore feels sure to adopt the uncouth and uncanny style of unrepentant blackmailer, purveyor of blatant falsehood and dangerous provocateur, as desperate attempts to gain relevance in Nigeria’s political space, he should be mindful of the consequences.

 

The Federal Government must act decisively and pointedly.

 

Nigerians should breathe heavily on the shoulders of those whose activities are clearly antithetical to the progress made by the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's two and half years in the saddle in government, which in my well considered and dispassionate view, are intending for the eldorado.

 

Activism is neither Rascalism nor Infantilism.

 

As Students union activists which Omoyele Sowore played, he will recall the principle of the 3Cs (consultation, consolidation, before confrontation) as a guide to any meaningful action or agitation.

 

Spreading fake news with clear intention to overreach or defame the other's character or integrity is not on and crassly unacceptable.

 

Attempting to incite Nigerians against the government with the crudity of style is treasonable felony.

 

Any action which is capable of undermining public trust and potent enough to threaten Nigeria’s democracy, stemming from malice, is unacceptable.

 

Signed:

Chief Tony C Okocha Ksc, DSSRS JP.

 

Chairman, APC Rivers State.

The North-South Divide

By Dr Austin Orette

Are we really divided by geography or culture? Nigeria is a very heterogeneous society. From the cacophony of our disagreements, there is a straight line that separates the North and the South, the East and the West.

We have been presented with the scenario that the North will always want the opposite of what the South wants. This means if the South wants unity, then the North by default will want disunity.  At the moment, most people in the south want restructuring. The North does not want it as we are told.

To what extent has geography decided our destiny? Are we really different temperamentally due to accidents in our geography? We will believe so if we subscribe to the prevailing notion that we are incapable of brewing a culture that is inclusive because of our geographic placements.

Nigeria is a very heterogeneous and variegated society that has failed to evolve a theme that is inclusive of all the people within our borders. The failure to achieve this elusive unity is due to our primordial loyalties and attachments to our origins.  There is a failure of imagination and expansion of our consciousness. At this place, we will see each other. This failure also means we are still like children, who have refused to grow up and will not leave home.

Some have posited that we could have been better if the imaginary line that separated the North and South was made more visible and not blurred by the interposition of Lord Lugard. Most Nigerians will always blame the British for this amalgamation. I don’t, because Lord Lugard did what he had to do for the love of Britain. He needed to save costs and make the colonization easier for His Royal Majesty. All he did was for the love of his homeland. No matter how much we blame the British, the constant is that they did what they have to do for the love of Britain.

My question is: What have we done for the love of our people and Nigeria? This is the question we should ask ourselves every day. Have we evolved any system to bring us together as the largest concentration of black people in the World? The answer is no. At the time Africans were crying for the unity of black people, some Nigerians wanted more fragmentation. This means that we cannot go beyond the artificial lines that were created to confine ourselves and we have accepted an imaginary line that makes neighbors to be strangers perpetually. It also suggests that we are lazy and cannot go beyond our comfort zone.

We have a duty to reframe and recalibrate our relationships that are devoid of exploitation by those who gave a numerical advantage. The respect for the rights of minorities is a sine qua non in a society that aspires to be democratic. As the largest concentration of Black people in the world, it is our responsibility to evolve beyond our present conditions of strife and ethnic hostilities and adopt a more inclusive theme for our polity.

I have emphasized at various times that if you remove the imported religions, we have more in common as Nigerians. These foreign religions are actually the fuel for the tribalism and ethnic divisions that are tearing the nation apart.

There are more minorities in the North than in the South. The North is actually more advanced in terms of inter-ethnic harmony than the South. A Northerner is more likely to say he is a Northerner than a Southerner. A southerner will identify with his tribe first.  This is where the Northerner is more advanced in inter-ethnic relations. They have a more panoramic view of Nigeria than the average southerner.

The South is still a basin of inter-ethnic rivalries. The reason for this is that the South is not as variegated as the North. The rivalry and low intensity animus between the South-west and South-East is becoming tiresome. This rivalry makes it difficult to evolve ethos that are beyond ethnic nationalism. These tribes instead of developing a blueprint of cohabitation with the minority tribes, they engage in parasitic relationships that are injurious to the minority tribes. They even want the minority tribes to forget their history and become members of the large tribes. Can the parasite absorb the host? Nature says no. The host just wants to be left alone to survive the interplay and ignominy of the so-called big tribes. The way Yoruba and Igbo behave in the South makes me wonder if they are aware of any other people besides them who occupy this terrain we call Southern Nigeria. They need to take a lesson from the North on how to unify people.
 
We need unity all over the country, but Southern unity is very essential for the unity and progress of Nigeria. Southern unity is needed to free the North from Religious tyranny that impedes progress and imprison Northern youth in a cocoon of Ignorance. This state of ignorance makes the Northern youth erroneously identify with the vision of his oppressor.

How did the North become so united? They used a language of common purpose. No matter the drawback of the Fulani, they were able to draw up a philosophy of a common heritage. This could be religion or culture. Since we don’t have a common heritage in the South, we can draw up a common theme that can unify us.  We could adopt the theme: Justice, equality and fairness. It is not enough to say you are Igbo. Do you believe in justice? Do you believe in equality? Do you believe in fairness? If the answer is yes, I will work with you to evolve a better relationship.

What does it mean to be a Yoruba? Do you believe in Justice? Do you believe in fairness? Do you believe in equality? If the answer is yes, I will work with you to evolve a better terrain for our people. It is the negative answers that come from these groups that militate against any form of unity in Nigeria.

Lord Lugard amalgamated Nigeria for the love of Britain. What have we Nigerians done for the love of Nigeria? The answer to this question will lead to our evolution to a better place where our vision is not blurred. One out of every four black people in the world is a Nigerian. This is power and should be backed by our sense of responsibility to all black people around the World. This is a leadership position that every Nigerian must take as his responsibility.

To be effective, we must as a matter of urgency restructure Nigeria for proper governance. Restructuring will reduce hostilities and arbitrarily of governance. Knowledgeable people will move from a mediocre and moribund unitary/Central governance and improve the lives of people at the local level who can be trusted to pick the right people for leadership. Our focus should be on this solemn obligation that must not be trifled by any singular loyalty to the village idiot who is still a troglodyte.

 

Dr Austin Orette Writes from Houston, Texas

 

The pulpit and parliament stand this day not in rivalry, says Senate President

The Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio has emphasized the partnership between the Church and the state for national transformation and human development.

 

In his address captioned “Church and State as Partners in National Transformation and Human Development”, delivered as the chairman at the occasion of the opening ceremony of the Second plenary session of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria, held at Obot Akara, the senate president declared, “no Parliament, however mighty, can govern a people without their soul. And the soul of a nation is nurtured by the Church. Thus the Psalmist proclaims: ‘Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord.”

 

According to him, “It is in that spirit that pulpit and parliament, altar and assembly, stand this day not in rivalry, but in fellowship. To stand here is not a small honour; it is a solemn privilege.”

 

Excerpt of the address read:

 

Your Grace, Most Reverend Dr. Camillus Umoh, Bishop of Ikot Ekpene; Your Excellency, Archbishop Michael Francis Crotty, the Papal Nuncio to Nigeria; Archbishop Lucius Ugorji, President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference; My Lords Spiritual, distinguished dignitaries of the Church, and fellow countrymen:

 

I come before you today not merely as the President of the Senate, but as a fellow pilgrim in our great journey of faith, and as a companion in the march of our nation—seeking the renewal of hope, the upliftment of our people, and the fulfillment of Nigeria’s destiny. I extend to you the greetings of the Senate and the Government of our beloved nation. But let me also make a confession: no Parliament, however mighty, can govern a people without their soul. And the soul of a nation is nurtured by the Church. Thus the Psalmist proclaims: ‘Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord.’

 

It is in that spirit that pulpit and parliament, altar and assembly, stand this day not in rivalry, but in fellowship. To stand here is not a small honour; it is a solemn privilege. I am grateful to our Bishops for this wonderful opportunity, which is both symbolic and instructive. Symbolic, because it declares before God and man that faith and governance are not enemies but allies, marching together for the good of the people. Instructive, because it reminds us that in the building of nations, the voice of conscience must never be silent, and the hand of government must never be deaf to wisdom from the altar

 

You graciously gave me the liberty to choose my subject, and I have chosen one as timely as it is eternal: the sacred partnership of Church and State in the transformation of Nigeria, and in the upliftment of her people.

 

The relationship between altar and throne has long stirred the minds of men. Some have insisted that they must forever be adversaries, locked in endless conflict. Others, no less mistaken, have thought partnership meant domination—that one must swallow the other. But history and Scripture alike show a different path. When Church and State walk together in mutual respect, when they stand side by side as guardians of truth and justice, then the people flourish. “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord,” declares the Psalmist. And our Lord Himself, with the clarity of eternity, has spoken: “Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and unto God the things that are God’s.” There, my friends, is the compass of wisdom: distinction without division, partnership without compromise.

 

The annals of nations shine with examples. In Poland, the Catholic Church, under Cardinal Karol Wojtyła—later Pope John Paul II—stood shoulder to shoulder with the Solidarity movement, until tyranny collapsed and freedom rose, like a Phoenix, from its ashes. In Latin America, the Church, armed with her social doctrine, carried the burden of the poor when governments faltered—building schools where there were none, raising hospitals where illnesses flourished. In South Korea, the Catholic and Presbyterian voices together rang the bell of liberty, breaking the chains of dictatorship and setting a nation on the path to prosperity. Time and again, where the Church has dared to be the conscience of the State, renewal has come to nations.

 

Nor has the Nigeria Church been silent in her hour of testing. When military boots stamped upon the soil of our democracy, voices rose from the pulpit and the sanctuary. We remember Archbishop Gabriel Ganaka of Jos, who reminded us that the Church must ever be the conscience of society. ‘The Church cannot be silent in the face of injustice,’ he declared, ‘for silence in such times is itself a sin.’ In a season of fear, he gave us courage; in a season of tyranny, he gave us hope.

 

I recall with reverence the fearless Cardinal Anthony Okogie of Lagos, who, as President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, stood against the storm of tyranny and made all Christians proud. At a time when silence would have been easier, he raised his voice for democracy, for freedom, for dignity. The Church did not covet political influence; the Church wielded the sword of truth, and her moral authority became a lamp for the nation.

 

The Catholic tradition of social teaching is a gift not only to Christendom but to mankind. Pope Leo XIII’s Rerum Novarum declared the sacred rights of the worker. Pope Francis’ Laudato Si’ calls us to steward the earth itself as our common home. These teachings insist—human dignity is sacred, the common good is supreme, the poor must be at the centre of development, and justice and peace are the twin pillars of progress. This is not politics. This is the Gospel and it should thrive in the market, in the farm, in the schoolroom, in the halls of power.

 

And so I say to Catholics, Christians and all people of faith across Nigeria: do not retreat, do not grow silent, do not imagine that governance belongs to others while faith belongs only to the sanctuary. No! Bring your faith into the marketplace. Bring it into the corridors of power. Bring your discipline into the professions. Bring your courage into the public service. Be like Daniel in Babylon—faithful in governance, undefiled in conscience. Be like Nehemiah, who rebuilt broken walls with one hand upon the trowel and the other upon the sword of prayer. Be like Moses, who went to Egypt to bring God’s people to the land of promise. This, my brothers and sisters, is the vocation of the faithful in every generation—to bear witness in season and out of season.

 

As President of the Senate, I pledge before you that we shall continue to stand with the Church in this sacred work. In the councils of government, we are your eyes and your ears. And let it be said with clarity: your voice is not ornamental, it is essential; your counsel is not optional, it is indispensable.

 

In the 10th Senate, we have sought to legislate not only with reason but with conscience. The foundation of our cordial relationship with the Executive is not convenience, but conscience — and the enduring interest of the common man. Through such collaboration, we have widened access to education through the Student Loan Act, lifting the hopes of our youth. We restrained tariff hikes, that the poor might not be crushed beneath burdens too heavy to bear. We passed a new minimum wage, affirming the dignity of labour and the rights of the worker. And when war drums sounded in Niger, we chose the harder road of peace over the easier path of conflict. These are not mere statutes, but living testimonies that parliament and pulpit, reason and faith, already walk hand in hand for the good of Nigeria. For as the prophet has declared: ‘What does the Lord require of you but to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God’ (Micah 6:8)

 

As a Catholic, I know your unyielding interest in education. Rest assured that the Tinubu Administration shall strengthen your schools that train not only the mind but also the soul. In healthcare, we shall work with your hospitals and clinics, which for decades have been the refuge of the sick and the poor. In justice and human rights, we shall uphold laws that defend the dignity of every Nigerian, regardless of tribe or creed. In youth empowerment, we shall join hands with faith-based institutions to train, to inspire, and to equip our young men and women to meet the challenges of tomorrow.

 

We are not perfect. We stumble. But we are resolved to legislate with equity, with justice, and with the fear of Almighty God.But let me also speak plainly, as truth compels me: the work of rebuilding Nigeria will not be accomplished in a day, nor in a year. Nations are not transformed by decrees alone, but by patience, by sacrifice, by the labour of many hands and the courage of many hearts.

 

Let me seize this opportunity to urge my compatriots to be patient with your government as we lay again the foundations of this house. Do not despair when the winds blow strong or the scaffolding shakes. For a nation is like a mighty cathedral—it is not raised overnight, but stone by stone, prayer by prayer, hand by hand. “They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles.” (Isaiah 40:31).

 

Let us therefore renew hope in the Nigerian enterprise. Let us believe again that our land can be great, that our children can inherit a future brighter than our present. Let us bind the wounds of division, banish the cynicism of despair, and walk together—Church and State, pulpit and parliament, faith and policy—towards the dawn.

 

My Lords, ladies and gentlemen: transformation is not the burden of one arm of society, nor the privilege of a select few. It is a covenant of partnership. As St. Paul declares: ‘We are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building.’ Let us then build together. Let us rise together. Let us bring forth a Nigeria of justice, of peace, of human flourishing.

 

As Governor, I once observed that this blessed state had become the Gilgal of our nation — the place of covenant renewal — because of the stream of faith-based conventions that gathered here. Now that the mother of all Churches has brought its plenary session to this land, I pray that this convocation will become to us what Gilgal was to Israel: a memorial of God’s faithfulness, a turning of the page, and the dawn of a new chapter in our nation’s story.

 

God bless the Holy Catholic Church. God bless His Church. God bless our great citizens.  God bless the Senate. And God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Comptroller Salamatu Atuluku takes Over Leadership at Port Harcourt Customs Area 1

...... as the Command Rakes in N187 Billion in 8 months of 2025
 

Comptroller Salamatu Atuluku has assumed the leadership position of the Nigeria Customs Service Area 1, Port Harcourt, replacing Comptroller YM Hashim who has been redeployed to import and Export unit of the Nigeria Customs Service Headquarters in Abuja.
 
In an emotion laden handover and taking over ceremony Thursday in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State Capital which was attended by officers and Men of the Nigeria Customs Service, critical stakeholders, members of the press amongst others, the new Customs Area Controller, Comptroller S Atuluku expressed Joy for the new appointment saying it was a defining  point in her career even as the out gone Customs Area Controller, Comptroller YM Hashim said the Command has generated  N187 Billion Revenue in 8 months of 2025.
 
Speaking at the event, the Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Atuluku said that it was a great joy and sense of humility to stand before everybody to receive the baton of leadership of the Command insisting  "this is not just a ceremonial moment; it is a defining point in my career, and I am grateful to God Almighty, to the Comptroller General of Customs Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR and his management team for finding me worthy of this responsibility."
 
She however, recognized and sincerely appreciated her predecessor, Comptroller YM Hashim, for his selfless service and remarkable contributions to the success of the Command, noting that  “he  has laid a solid foundation in revenue collection, trade facilitation, and stakeholder engagement ", even as she promised it would be  upon such foundation that  she would strive to build.
 
“Comptroller Sir, I wish you the very best in your next assignment and life endeavors."
 
"To my senior officers, I come with an open heart and mind. I believe strongly in teamwork, and I know that leadership is not about one person but about collective efforts. I urge you all to give me the same cooperation and commitment you have shown my predecessor, if not more. Together, we will ensure that this Command continues to stand tall”, she stated.
 
Continuing, She emphasized "To our stakeholders, and other critical partners here today, I see you not just as stakeholders but as partners in progress.”
 
"The growth of this Command depends on the strength of our collaboration. I promise to keep the doors of dialogue open, to listen, to understand, and to work with you in ways that will strengthen trade, enhance compliance, and bring mutual benefits."
 
She promised to collaborate with the press for effective reportage especially in the area of transparency and accountability
 
 Her words:  "Gentlemen of the press, you are an important bridge between us and the public. I look forward to working with you as partners in transparency and accountability."
 
She vowed to lead with fairness, dedication and human face."I pledge to lead with fairness, dedication, and a human face. "
 
"My doors will remain open, and I will count on your prayers, cooperation, and goodwill to succeed in this new assignment."
 
"Once again, I thank the Comptroller General of Customs for this opportunity, my predecessor for his legacy, and all of you for the warm reception", she added.
 
Earlier in his welcome remarks, the out-gone Comptroller  YM  Hashim says "I am deeply touched to see so many familiar faces here today, people who have walked with me on this journey, shared in the challenges, and stood by the Command through thick and thin."
 
He emphasized that their presence meant more to him than ordinary words can explain.
 
"Your presence means more to me than words can fully capture."
 
"Today is not just about change in leadership; it is about honouring the story of this Command, the hard work of its officers, and the bond we have built with our stakeholders. Looking back, I see a Command that has grown stronger, not just because of one person, but because of the collective spirit of everyone in this room."
 
Giving his scorecard on revenue generation during his tenure as Port Harcourt Area 1 Customs controller, from October 2023 to August 2025, Comptroller YM  Hashim said  "Every success has an underlining story.”
 
"I reported to Area 1 Command in October 2023, meeting a big revenue “shoe” of ₦11.8Billion. By the end of the year 2023, the total collection was One Hundred and sixteen Billion ₦116.5Billion. When compared with 2022, which stood at ₦92Billion, ₦24Billion, representing a growth of 26.18%."
 
"The year 2024 also started afresh with a revenue collection of ₦17,065Billion in January. At the close of that year, we had collected over ₦200Billion, surpassing the 2023 figure of ₦116.5Billion by over ₦84Billion, a percentage increase of 72.41%."
 
"At the start of 2025, the Command was given a revenue target over ₦216Billion with a monthly average of ₦18.077Billion.”
 
"It might interest you to know that from January to August 2025, the Command recorded revenue collection of over ₦187Billion, leaving only about ₦29Billion to go for the year, with Four (4) powerful “ember” months remaining.”
 
"This collection, when compared to the same period in 2024, which stood at ₦142.5Billion, shows a difference of over ₦45Billion representing a revenue growth of about 32%. "
 
"At this juncture, it is sufficient to reiterate that the very big revenue “shoes” of ₦11Billion handed over to me by my predecessor has now expanded as the command recorded a revenue collection of over ₦31Billion in June 2025. These figures are not just numbers; they tell the story of sacrifice, teamwork, and the tireless commitment of officers and men of this Command, supported by our stakeholders”, he noted.
 
Speaking further, he said "To each and every one of you, I owe a debt of gratitude. To the officers and men of this Command, you have been my strength. Your dedication, your sacrifice, and your resilience are what made our achievements possible. To our stakeholders and partners, you did not just play your part, you walked with us like true companions, sometimes challenging us, sometimes encouraging us, but always reminding us that we are better together."
 
"I also owe special thanks to the Comptroller-General of Customs and his Management team for giving me the privilege to serve here. Port Harcourt Area 1 has been more than a posting for me; it has been a home. I carry with me fond memories of teamwork, trust, and friendships that I will treasure long after I leave this seat."
 
"As I hand over the baton today, my only request is simple: stand by my successor the same way you stood by me. Support, encourage, and work with her, because leadership may change, but our mission and our shared responsibility to the nation remain the same." Comptroller Hashim said.
 
The event featured goodwill messages from officers and Men of the Nigeria Customs Service and critical stakeholders.
 
Delivering their goodwill messages Deputy Controller  incharge of International Airport Umagwa DC SE Ntuen and Deputy Controller Valuation Customs Area 1 Command, DC MA Ayoola have described Comptroller YM Hashim has an achiever who has turned the revenue profile of Port Harcourt Area 1 into a positive direction.
 
They emphasized that his exit from Customs Area 1 was that of a mixed feeling having bonded so well with him.
 
They praised him for his leadership style especially in stakeholders Engagement, friendship disposition and dedication to duty.
 
They however said they were consoled as they would meet him in Abuja as the Controller in charge of the export and import unit at the Headquarters.
 
They equally used the opportunity to welcome the new Controller of the Command, Comptroller Salamatu Atuluku and pledged their unalloyed cooperation.
 
Also speaking, Dr Emmanuel Oko, Chapter Chairman, Association of Nigerian customs Licensed Customs Agents, (ANLCA) had paid a glowing tribute to the outgone Comptroller, YM Hashim, insisting that his stay at Customs Port Harcourt Area 1, has positively impacted on the agents.
 
He said his exit elicited a mixed reaction to him but was happy Hashim was not exiting the service but going to Abuja for  new assignment.
 
“Am not completely angry because I will be seeing you in Abuja. I wish you Success and God's guidance in your new assignment" Dr Oko said.
 
He also used the opportunity to welcome Comptroller Atuluku and assured her of his members' support and cooperation to achieve her objectives.
 
The high point of the event was a presentation of an award of Excellence to Comptroller Hashim,by the Serving Youth Copers  of the Command who described Comptroller Hashim as a  Father .
 
Present at the event include Members of ANLCA, NAGAFF among others
 
By Bon Peters,
in Port Harcourt, Rivers State