Hamman Bello Kojoli: Would He a Difference?

On 27th May 2008, a new Comptroller General for the Nigerian Custom and Excise was appointed, the man was no any other person than Hamman Bello Ahmed kojoli, the former Assistant Comptroller-General of Customs in charge of Investigation and Inspection, Customs Headquarters.

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The Nigerian Custom being a very important institution in the economic development of Nigerian, and the vital role it is expected to play in the timely collection of accounting for revenue, implementation of and advise on Governmental trade and fiscal policies, promotion of trade facilitation, protection of Nigeria society and generation of accurate and precise statistical data, by developing a professional, transparent administration that implements international best practices and obligations. The question many people are asking is; would Hamman Bello Ahmed make a difference, by doggedly working towards the accomplishment of these objectives? Without mincing words, the answer is yes. Hamman Bello is a fine officer of the Nigerian Custom who has excelled in all assignments that were assigned to him. An example was when the Nigerian Custom and Excise observed an increase wave of seizures of prohibited goods released from the Apapa Ports and the desperate attempts by some unscrupulous importers to remove large number of containers of contraband from the Apapa Port. Hamman Bello was appointed to head a special operation; leading 28 customs officers, the man was able to restored sanity in the port and ensured strict implementation of government fiscal policies; he identified and seized all containers whose importation /exportation contravenes government fiscal policies. And his team fairly framed charges against the importers /exporters of such good; Hamman was able to enforced Due Process in customs clearing in accordance with the extant import and export clearance procedure; his team also re-established proper accounting, legal, warehousing and general enforcement procedure in Apapa Port.

During that special operation, Hamman was able to restored order even within the Custom establishments in the port; he identified Custom officers who have served in the port for more than 2 years, or for two or more times in six years, or those whose continued presence constitute impediments to the implementation of Government¢s fiscal policy and reforms agenda in the port; he also identified customs units without proper authorisation operating in the ports and reported them for appropriate sanction.

Being man of character and an advocate of corporate governance and system thinking, Hamman Bello enjoyed the corporation of all importers, exporters, customs agents and other port users, which ensured speedy restoration of sanity and clearance of goods in accordance with laid down rules and procedures in the Apapa Port.

Heading the Nigerian custom is a big challenge; especially in this era of President Yar¢Adua¢s strict adherence to rule of law and accountability, globalisation and the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme. The job of the Comptroller General of the Nigerian Custom requires someone that is highly educated, versatile and civilized. Hamman Bello possess all these qualities, and from all indications, his outstanding performances and sterling qualities are the underlying reasons why President Yar¢Adua appointed him to lead the Nigerian Custom; so as to give the Service the prerequisite leadership it requires to play it role ¡by the book¢ in today¢s world where running complex institution like the Nigerian Custom is knowledge-driven.

Taking history as a mirror, the Nigerian Custom and Excise could be said to have been established a little over a century ago when the British colonial administration appointed Mr. T. A. Wall, in 1891, as the Director-General of Customs for the collection of Inland Revenue in Niger Coast Protectorate. From then, the Nigerian custom has undergone various reforms and restructuring under the headship of various individuals. From Mr. E. P. C. Langdon, a Briton, who was appointed the first Chairman and Chief Executive Officer in 1959. Mr. S. G. Quinton later succeeded him. In 1964 Mr. Ayodele Diyan took over, he died in 1968 and was succeeded by Mr. Henny Etim Duke. After Etim, Mr. Oyebode Oyeleye was appointed, and then later   Dr. Bello Haliru Mohammed took over. Alhaji Abubakar Musa was appointed to restructure the Service. Subsequent substantive heads of the Service were career Customs officers: Ahmed Aliyu Mustapha (OFR); Jacob Gyang Buba, and the present, Hamman Bello Ahmed.

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Hamman, a 1978 graduate of ABU Zaria and a recipient of many awards, has served the Nigerian Customs Service for yearly 30 years in various capacities, from superintendent II up to the level of an Assistant Comptroller General. His sterling qualities and outstanding performances as a custom officer were the main reasons President Yar¢Adua appointed him. Hamman is a man of exemplary character, who is always enthusiastic about excellence in work, he is a motivator, one that inspires confidence in others and draws out the trust and best efforts of his men to complete a tasks. Hamman is orderly and purposeful in situations of uncertainty. He is always calm, composed and steadfast to the main purpose; he is the man that will raise the bar in order to achieve excellence and modernisation in the Nigerian customs; his 8-points agenda for the Custom service is a clear manifest to that.

By Zayyad I. Muhammad

Zayyad I. Muhammad wrote in Jimeta, Adamawa State, 08036070980,
zaymohd@yahoo.com