The Nigeria Customs Service has appointed Haliru Isah-Abdullahi as the new acting customs area controller of the Sokoto-Zamfara area command. Bashir Tanimu, a spokesman for the command, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday.

According to him, Mr Isah-Abdullahi assumed duty on Thursday, following a formal handover ceremony at the command’s headquarters in Sokoto.

Mr Tanimu said the new acting area controller took over the command’s flag and other official documents from the outgoing, Babagana Shettima.

He added that in his inaugural speech, Mr Isah-Abdullahi thanked the comptroller-general of customs, Bashir Adewale-Adeniyi, and the service’s management for the confidence reposed in him.

He commended Mr Shettima for his leadership, describing him as a “crisis manager par excellence” who left the command better than he met it.

The new acting area controller pledged to build on his predecessor’s achievements and urged officers and men to uphold discipline, professionalism, and integrity in discharging their duties.

“Discipline and professionalism remain the bedrock of the service and are non-negotiable tools for effective border security, facilitation of legitimate trade and enhanced revenue collection for national development,” he said.

Earlier, Mr Shettima welcomed the incoming acting area controller and urged officers and men of the command to extend maximum support and cooperation.

He said such cooperation was necessary to enable the command to achieve the service’s mandates of revenue collection, trade facilitation and securing the nation’s borders.

Mr Tanimu further reaffirmed the command’s commitment to intensify efforts to achieve its statutory mandates of revenue collection, trade facilitation and border security for national economic development.

(NAN)