MMIA, Lagos Industrial Commands Get New Customs Controllers
*Nwokorie, Salawu Vow Transparency, Performance, Stakeholder Engagement
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has effected leadership changes at two key formations, with Comptroller Chidi Nwokorie assuming duty as the new Customs Area Controller (CAC) of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Command, and Comptroller Adebola Salawu taking over at the Lagos Industrial Command.
At the MMIA Command, Comptroller Nwokorie pledged to operate an open-door policy, assuring importers, stakeholders, and officers of transparent leadership that will enhance revenue performance and national security. He took over from Comptroller Michael Harrison, who retired after 35 years of service.
Speaking at the handing-over ceremony in Lagos, Nwokorie thanked the Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Adewale Adeniyi, for entrusting him with the responsibility of leading the airport command. He stressed the need for collaboration, noting that officers in the field remain his “eyes” in delivering effective performance.
His predecessor, Comptroller Harrison, lauded the dedication and professionalism of officers during his tenure, pointing out that his command leveraged intelligence to achieve results without incidents of interdiction or dismissal. He described Nwokorie’s appointment as timely, citing his security background and experience as assets for the command, and urged officers to extend full cooperation to sustain progress.
At the Lagos Industrial Command, Comptroller Adebola Salawu succeeded Comptroller Sarah Wadinda, who retired after many years of service marked by corporate social responsibility projects. These included the installation of a water treatment plant, the establishment of an electronic library, and the refurbishment of facilities at Festac Senior Grammar School under the “Customs Cares” initiative.
In her remarks, Salawu praised her predecessor’s legacy and called on officers to sustain trade facilitation and excise revenue collection. She emphasised leveraging the newly deployed Unified Customs Management System (B’Odogwu), with particular focus on in-house training and stakeholder engagement, to boost excise operations and support national economic growth.
Comptroller-General Adeniyi, in his separate remarks, praised the retiring controllers for their contributions to the Service and expressed confidence that the new leadership at both commands would strengthen transparency, operational efficiency, and customs modernisation.
