Comptroller Esien Esiet Assumes Leadership At Customs Eastern Marine Command, Launches Strategic Stakeholder Engagements

By Bon Peters

 

The Eastern Marine Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has announced a change of baton at its Command, as Deputy Comptroller Esien Etim Esiet officially assumed leadership as the Acting Comptroller replacing Comptroller AB Jaja even as he has also involved in strategic stakeholder engagements.

 

This disclosure was contained in a press release issued, signed and made available to our media platform by the Command's Public Relations officer, Joshua Iliya a Deputy Superintendent of Customs on Wednesday, May 20,2026 in  Port Harcourt, the Rivers state Capital.

 

The statement stated that "in a proactive move to strengthen maritime security and trade facilitation, Ag. Comptroller Esiet has immediately initiated an extensive tour of operational facilities and high-level engagements across the region."

 

The first phase of the familiarization tour involved key locations in Rivers, Akwa Ibom, and Cross River States, including Abonnema and Onne Outstations (Port Harcourt) ​, Oron Outstation (Akwa Ibom) and Calabar Outstation  (Cross River).

 

 During the visitations, Deputy Comptroller Esiet conducted rigorous inspections of equipment and personnel readiness, emphasizing that the success of the Command relied  on a united front, adding that a "Sustained synergy is our greatest weapon in combating smuggling and maritime crimes", insisting that a united front was non-negotiable for national security.

 

On the Inter-agency an internal collaboration, and to foster a one service approach, the Ag. Comptroller held strategic meetings with the Customs Area Controllers of Port Harcourt II (Onne), the Oil and Gas Free Trade Zone, and the Cross River/Calabar Free Trade Zone/Akwa Ibom Area Command. 

 

To further reinforce maritime safety, DC Esiet equally paid courtesy visits to top maritime security brass, including the Commander, NNS Pathfinder, Port Harcourt, the Commanding Officer, Navy Forward Operation Base (FOB), Ibaka, the Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), Eastern Naval Command, and the Cross River State Commissioner of Police. 

 

On Community and Private Sector Partnership and in  recognition of the vital role of grassroots support, DC Esiet paid his respects to traditional leadership by visiting His Royal Highness, Nyemoni Iwo Ama of the Abonnema Wharf Community, and His Royal Eminence, Edidem Ekpo Okon Abasi Otu (V), the Obong of Calabar. 

 

The visits, according to the statement,underscored  the Command's commitment to maintaining deep-rooted ties with host communities among others.

 

However, for maintenance of patrol boats and specialized officer training, the Acting Comptroller also met with the management of SeWa West Africa Ltd to discuss patrol boat maintenance and specialized officer training, ensuring the Command's fleet remained a formidable deterrent to illicit activities.

​

On fiscal policy Compliance, DC Esiet reiterated  his administration's resolve to  strictly align with the policy direction of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, PhD, emphasizing that his leadership would focus on streamlining maritime enforcement protocols, ensuring officers were motivated and equipped while maintaining an open-door policy with licensed   agents and partners.

​

 The Eastern Marine Command which is a specialized wing of the Nigeria Customs Service is  dedicated to patrolling the nation's Eastern Waterways, preventing smuggling, and ensuring the security of maritime trade.

 

 

The Anatomy of Fear

 By Dr. Austin Orette 

 

“We have nothing to fear except fear itself “FDR

 

The All Progressives Congress (APC) primary election was an exercise on how to control the people with fear. The party primaries yielded significant victories for political heavyweights alongside massive upsets for several incumbents.

 

In a democratic exercise that was supposed to be peaceful, there was gun fire, mayhem and murder. As usual, the police will not investigate these assaults on citizens because lawlessness is their insignia and this is also a telescope of the most powerful weapon of incumbent politicians of the APC stripe.

 

Fear is their weapon and they will deploy it for the harvest of power. They have nothing to show for the high office they hold. Fear has always been the weapon of dictators and outlaws. This is also the weapon the kidnappers have used effectively in Nigeria without any hindrance despite the overwhelming electronic signatures and footprints. The Colonial masters used it. The military used it and threw the country into a civil war that we are still grappling with. They made Nigeria a fear-based society. Fear based existence is a mechanical existence that makes every citizen interaction adversarial. This is who we are now. We have become a people with contracted dreams and limited aspiration. Our limited dreams take us everywhere but here.

 

Any kind of leadership that induces this kind of behavioral changes must be voted out to save our republic. This is what patriotism demands. We have a duty to vote out this bunch of leaders who have no understanding of constitutional order and a democratic society. They perambulate like peacocks and want us to consider their irrational drivels as law of the land.  

 

After many years of civilian administrations, you will expect that those who rule will abide by the laws and govern with reason. Not so fast. The people in power today were the acolyte of the military cadre that ruled and destroyed Nigeria. They have adopted military tactics to force obedience. Damn the law and damn civility. Nigerian leaders are yet to come across a situation they cannot resolve without violence and intimidation. The citizen must be made to be afraid, very afraid and pliable. Keep him hungry and he will always be afraid. There is no law they cannot break in order to physically maim or kill a citizen who is not in tandem with obeying before the complaint format of governing.

 

If you close your eyes and listen to the way some of these politicians talk, you will think they got their position through a military coup. They use sirens to drive citizens from roads they did not construct, and they have thugs on their payrolls. They use the army and the police to harass citizens during the day and use their thugs to harass them at night. This is Nigeria where fear has been distilled to render the citizen impotent and unreasonable.

 

Activities in most cities come to a halt at about 5pm, because the citizens have become very afraid of the dark. The Night now belongs to the kidnappers, robbers and thugs. This anatomy of fear envelops the whole nation that everyone is distrustful of each other. This atmosphere has created a situation where we think the worst of each other, and we become easy to offend and manipulate.

 

Without a little nudge, we become participants in orgy of hatred for anyone who does not share the perimeter of our thoughts. The defensive actions we take in response to these fears clouds our judgement and out of proportion to the point of irrationality.

 

How do you explain a burglary proof in the window of the fifth floor of a building? Who is that robber who will come at 2 am with a ladder to climb into the window of the fifth floor and descend with his loot? That is the irrationality of fear.

 

There was a time in Nigeria when criminals were afraid of the citizens. At this time of writing, Nigerians are afraid of the criminals. The fear is so morbid that a lynching mob assembles immediately to kill a hungry person who stole a loaf of bread. No one has empathy for anyone anymore. That is how a society dies.

 

We are too afraid to come to rational judgement. How do we deal with ourselves when we have just taken the life of someone who needed our help? In the same breath, we celebrate leaders who made these conditions happen. These contradictions push us into a state of mass psychosis as we cannot rationalize these behaviors.

 

Fear has made our society afraid of human compassion. Whether we know it or not, we have become dogs in Ivan pavlov’s experiment where our reactions become instinctual, and rationality is held in abeyance. We begin to equate the ability to induce fear as the strength of politicians and we use the ability to hurt or kill people as ennobling. Sooner or later, we surrender the society we love to the psychopaths amongst us. They will mimic our civility and make laws that will set the criminals free and imprison the innocents. This is what guarantees the silence of the masses in the presence of overwhelming criminality.

 

A person was killed during a primary election. No one is talking because they have been enclosed in a cocoon of fear. These fears keep us divided. As long as we are afraid of something, the mediocre leaders are empowered. The fear is their oxygen. A village is wiped out by marauding soldiers, and my governor pays a courtesy call to the president. Dead voters are of no use to him as long as those alive are still afraid. The leaders who enable this kind of atmosphere should never be entrusted with power. They are the problem and we should vote them out.

 

We must wake up and remember that even though the road to Samaria was very bad, there was a Good Samaritan who chose love over fear and saved someone he did not know.

 

Fear is a limiting factor that stops the growth of a people. People who are afraid cannot dream and be creative. We must get rid of these fears because fearful people cannot be free. This fear precludes us from knowing each other and doing business with each other in a terrain that lacks legal safeguards.

 

These leaders who love power without any sense of responsibility must be voted out of power. They have used their limited vision to put our people in bondage of ignorance, disease and poverty.

 

We are obligated to reclaim our humanity. Voting them out will remove the blanket of fear that has stifled the energy and productivity of the Nigerian youth. We must remove this fear that has programmed us not to be kind to each other. We must make them answerable to us. This is what the 2027 election is all about. They must be held accountable for the decay in our society.

 

Austin Orette Writes From Owhelogbo In Isoko North Local Government Area

 

Sapele State Constituency: My Chances are Bright – Kingsley Akpederin

 

Delta lawyer, Kingsley Akpederin, on Wednesday formally declared his intention to run for the Sapele State Constituency election in 2027, saying he has a bright chance of winning the House of Assembly election.

 

"The advantage I have over my rivals is that I have more experience in grassroots mobilization and reach. I also have the confidence of the majority of people who have continually been reaching out to me to go into the ring again."

 

He also said his decision to contest in 2027 was informed by the need to shift from top-down directives to participatory governance where citizens define, track and influence policy implementation.

 

Akpederin, a  contestant on the platform of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), spoke to journalists in Asaba on his House of Assembly bid, 2027 elections and plans for the wonderful people of Sapele.

 

He identified economic and social development, security, welfare, accountability and digital governance as key pillars of a genuine people-centered agenda.  

 

"Decisions are made daily by those in government which affect all of us. If we neglect to participate in politics, we would have got ourselves into a situation whereby the worst of us decide so much which affects our lives and those of our children and our future. Politics determines whether public resources would be directed to the welfare of the people or would be misappropriated for matters not beneficial to the people or even squandered. So in a nutshell, my decision to participate in politics is to contribute to having a government that has an agenda for the people."

 

The renowned community leader labeled participation as the hallmark of representative democracy.

 

"It is good that many persons are interested in contesting for the position of House Assembly position. It means if we have a free and fair election, there would be an array of candidates that the people can choose from. Participation is the hallmark of representative democracy."

 

He scored the National Assembly high for the introduction of biometrics and electronic processes in the country’s elections.

 

"This is the fourth time I am running for the same office. Unfortunately, most of the time, the Electoral Process did not always afford the people the opportunity to choose the person they truly desire. There was a time that one person could have several voter cards and vote several times. There was even a time that figures were just capriciously allotted to candidates by compromised presiding officers of Polling Units. But with the introduction of elements of biometrics and electronic processes in our elections, we hope to get a more credible process and outcome."

 

 

 

 

Customs Area 11 Command Onne Ph. Hits over N258B Revenue in Four months

 ......Seizes 17 containers of Illicit Trade worth over N2B 

  

Written By Bon Peters

 

The Nigeria Customs Service Area 11 command Onne Port Harcourt Rivers State, has given its revenue generation scorecard and anti-smuggling war from January to April  2026, putting the figures to a staggering  N258B, representing an unprecedented revenue collection in the history of the command and also seizing 17 Containers of Illicit Trade worth over N2B.

 

This disclosure was contained in a Press Release issued, signed and made available by the Command's Ag. Public Relation's officer,  PauI Istifanus Gimba, an Assistant Superintendent of Customs 1 on Thursday May 14, in Port Harcourt, the Rivers state capital.

 

Highlighting the achievements, the Customs Area Controller, Port  Area 11 Command, Comptroller Aliyu Mohammed Alkali, said "Just last month, in April 2026, the Command recorded its highest monthly revenue collection since inception, generating over N77.3 billion."

 

"It is worthy of note that from January to April 2026, the Command generated a total revenue of Two Hundred and Fifty-Eight Billion, Two Hundred and Four Million, Eight Hundred and Forty-One Thousand, Three Hundred and Fifty-Five Naira, Sixty-Six Kobo (N258,204,841,355.66)."

 

Continuing, the Onne Customs Boss, posited that the Revenue generated represented  an unprecedented revenue collection in the history of the Command insisting that  the remarkable achievement reflected  the unwavering commitment of the Command to revenue generation, trade facilitation, and the enforcement of extant government fiscal policies.

 

Comptroller Alkali also showcased the Command’s significant anti-smuggling achievements recorded over the past four months, noting that "in February 2026, vigilant officers of the Command intercepted an attempted smuggling of one 40-foot container declared to contain plumbing materials, with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of One Hundred and Eighty-Five Million, Two Hundred and Twenty Thousand Naira (N185,220,000.00)."

 

He emphasized that upon examination, it was discovered that the perpetrators had concealed the original container number and replaced it with a fake one in an attempt to unlawfully remove the container from the port without payment of duty.

 

He equally added that in the same month, officers of the Command intercepted nine 40-foot containers laden with various items, including bales of fabrics, building and carpentry tools, cartons of LED lights, cartons of solar fans, and bales of garments, among others, with a DPV of One Billion, Two Hundred and Fifty-One Million, Three Hundred and Sixty-Eight Thousand Naira (N1,251,368,000.00).

 

He maintained that the importers contravened Sections 231, 233, and 246 of the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023, through alteration of marks and numbers, document falsification, and attempted smuggling insisting that consequently, the containers and their contents were detained and subsequently converted to seizures in accordance with the law.

 

Furthermore, he hinted that in April 2026, the Command intercepted six 20-foot containers carrying a total of 1,100 jerricans of Super Delicieux Vegetable Oil with a DPV of Four Hundred and Ninety-Four Million Naira (N494,000,000.00). 

 

The importation according to him contravened section 55 of the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023, which prohibited the importation of refined vegetable oils and fats in order to protect and promote local industries, particularly domestic vegetable oil producers and agro-allied businesses.

 

Also intercepted was one 40-foot container concealing unregistered drugs comprising about 600 cartons of Hyergra, hidden among other items such as cartons of chilly cutters, ceiling fans, and food packs which the Duty Paid Value (DPV) of the items was estimated at One Hundred and Thirty-Nine Million, Three Hundred and Forty-Eight Thousand, Eight Hundred Naira (N139,348,800.00).

 

 According to the statement, the total Duty Paid Value (DPV) for all the seized 17 containers was Two Billion, Sixty-Nine Million, Nine Hundred and Thirty-Six Thousand, Eight Hundred Naira only (N2,069,936,800.00).

 

Sending a stern warning, the Comptroller reminded all mischievous importers and their agents that the Nigeria Customs  Service Onne,  remained unwavering in its resolve to combat smuggling and all forms of illegal trade practices at the Port even as he strongly encouraged all law-abiding traders to remain compliant and resist the temptation to engage in activities that contravene the law.

 

Comptroller Alkali also applauded the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, PhD, MFR, for his exemplary leadership, strategic direction, and unwavering support, which he said has continued  to inspire achievements and strengthen discipline within the Service.

 

He further acknowledged the contributions of the officers and men of the Port Harcourt II Area Command, commending them for their professionalism, vigilance, and dedication to duty, while noting that their commitment remained instrumental to the Command’s successes.

 

Concluding, he appreciated the members of the press for their continued partnership and commitment to disseminating accurate and reliable information about the activities of the Nigeria Customs Service to the public.

 

 

Delta South Youths Back Orette, Warn Against Prolonging Agony of the People

 

Youths in Delta South on Friday demanded for better representation in 2027.

 

“The future of Delta South rest on a rigorously vocal, vibrant and honest lawmaker.”

 

They also described the ambition of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate in Delta South, Dr. Austin Orette, as the best possible path in 2027.

 

“Dr. Austin Orette’s ambition is plainly not for himself. It is to serve the wonderful people of Delta South.”

 

At a meeting of the representatives of youth groups in Delta South, the youths applauded Orette for showing solid legislative and administrative gifts.

 

“Dr. Austin Orette is a resourceful and persistent organizer. He is hospitable to new ideas.”

 

The youths laid before newsmen and the public an extensive agenda, including a fast start on federal projects in the district, low interest loans to encourage local projects, stable budget, unemployment benefits, monetary standards and new constitution.

 

Orette’s agenda, the youths said, is fighting off insecurity, despair, dangerous feelings of helplessness and dependence.

 

The Leader of Delta South Youth Movement (DSYM), Amos Ebiakpo read the statement aloud to journalists in Warri with admiration of Orette’s blueprint.

 

“Dr. Austin Orette will lobby persuasively in the corridors, create jobs, improve roads and schools, develop parks and clear waterways. He will also ensure the building of hospitals, gas, sewage disposal and electric power plants, dams and canals, reclamation, irrigation,, levees and flood control projects, bridges and viaducts, docks and tunnels.”

 

The youths scolded those shouting continuity as if they were perverse and backward school boys.

 

“They should perish the dream of a second term.”

 

They said they would have nothing to do with the ruling party and groups supporting the old order.

 

“Backing the incumbent or any member of the ruling party in the district could only prolong the agony of the district” Amos finally declared.