Fresh Anxiety Over Custom CG; Abdulahi Dikko’s Job

Comptroller General; Alhaji Dikko Abdulahi

Palpable fears enveloped the rank and file of the Nigeria Customs Service last week following rumours that the service’s Comptroller General; Alhaji Dikko  Abdulahi was about to be replaced by the Federal Government.
Those who spoke with our correspondents in Port Harcourt, Lagos and Abuja confirm the reality of the imminent rejig at the money-spinning agency.
But, loyalists of the Customs boss maintained that there was no cause for alarm. They insist that it wasn’t the first time that such a rumour would be making the rounds.
But, Shipping Position Daily confirmed that, indeed the Presidency has made up its mind to remove the Customs CG, but it was still undecided about the successor.
It was confirmed from sources at the supervisory ministry of Finance that, while all the deputy comptrollers general (DCGs) will go along with the CG of Customs.The highly placed sources confided in our correspondent independently that, the minister; Dr Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, who is also the chairman of the board of the Nigeria Customs Service  has been able  to convince the Presidency of the need to find a replacement for Dikko.
Specifically, one source disclosed that, while the Minister is pushing for an ACG from the East, the President’s ‘political advisers’ are of the opinion that the post should shift to the South West. The third group favours a thorough professional perhaps from the ranks lower than ACG.
He however stressed that, the choice is between those who want professionalism and those who want a political choice, even as he hinted that a dark horse may eventually emerge from a least expected rank to meet the yearnings of those who are more concerned about ensuring that the Nigeria Customs Service remains an agency of repute in revenue collection and anti-smuggling.
Consequently, the Presidency is said to be weighing two options, which are: to appoint an acting Comptroller General, or to appoint a substantive head for the strategic agency.
If the first option is finally endorsed, then the most senior Deputy Comptroller General; Mr John Atte may step in as acting CG of Customs soon.
“He will serve for a few months, and a substantive CG will be appointed form the rank of either the DCGs or ACGs”, our source hinted last week.
The highly placed source, however added that government is more favourably disposed to appointing a substantive CG from the rank of ACG or from a lower rank.
“You remember that, apart from Atte,  other  DGCs are new so to say, the thinking is that since Dikko has succeeded in introducing PAAR and having carried out his reforms, we need to allow a younger cadre to carry on”, he disclosed.
Shipping Position Daily recalls that the board headed by the minister in changing the management of Customs, left Dikko and Atte, for the simple fact that both of them are still within the Civil service age bracket and not due for retirement yet.
Our sources vowed that the incumbent CG will leave as soon as the succession option is settled.
But at the Customs headquarters last week, our correspondent learnt that the jostling for the top job has now become an open contest, so much that, even some officers in the rank of Comptroller have been linked to it.
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