The Interim Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Maj-Gen Barry Tariye Ndiomu (rtd), has urged the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) on the need to recruit graduate ex-agitators into its officers’ corp.
The Interim Administrator made the request during a courtesy visit to the Comptroller General of NCS, Col Hameed Ibrahim Ali (rtd), at the agency’s headquarters in Abuja.
Ndiomu explained that some of the ex-agitators are very brilliant persons with either first or second class upper degrees in various fields of study.
He added that the young men and women are acutely disadvantaged because of the peculiar environmental challenges they are exposed to in the creeks.
He stated further that the lack of Internet facilities in the rural areas of the Niger Delta region is responsible for their inability to access information on recruitment exercises to the armed and civil agencies.
He noted that the ex-agitators are very disciplined and hardworking, hence they will be very productive as service men and women.
The Presidential Amnesty Programme helmsman further informed his host that the men and women he is recommending for recruitment into the Customs are patriotic and highly self-motivated, hence they shall not betray the confidence reposed on them.
In his response, Col Hameed Ali stated that the Customs will be fair to all irrespective of state of origin.
He, however, said the body is ready to partner with the PAP in future recruitment exercises, hopefully before the end of this administration.
“Though we may not grant the South-South any special concessions, efforts will be made to ensure the quotas allocated to each state is filled in addition to the mandatory four persons per Local Government model of recruitment already entrenched in the system,” he stated, promising also that the agency “will, as usual, be fair, just and equitable to all.
“We are always transparent in our activities so as to give equal opportunities to those who merit the chance to be engaged”, Col. Ali (rtd) said.
He also assured the Interim Administrator that the agency is willing and ready to assist with security services as its marine units are located in all the Niger Delta states.
“As my younger brother, colleague and friend, I wish you success in this new assignment because I know it is not easy working with people in civil space, some times you need to overlook certain imperatives for the benefit of the overall success of the programne. But bear in mind that your success is my success,” he said.
This is a call to serve your people and your country, so, serve with all diligence as we did in the military. Be a good ambassador of the military from where we all grew to the pinnacle of our profession”, he added.

By: Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa