Amanze Chinonye
The new Customs Area 1 Comptroller, Salamatu Atuluku, has pledged to work closely with stakeholders at the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa, to attract more cargo airlines and revive operations at the facility.
Atuluku made this commitment on Tuesday during her maiden official visit to the Customs Airport Unit in Omagwa, Rivers State, where she engaged officers of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), sister agencies, clearing and forwarding agents, and airport management officials.
Speaking at the familiarisation meeting, the Comptroller described the airport as “a vital gateway to our nation,” noting that her visit was aimed at strengthening bonds, sharing perspectives, and renewing collective commitment to seamless operations.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelShe commended the officers and men of the NCS for their discipline and resilience despite working under challenging conditions, and urged them to remain steadfast.
“I deeply appreciate the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, and his management team for their vision, which has repositioned the Service for greater efficiency, transparency, and effectiveness. Guided by that vision, we must deepen collaboration with stakeholders. With mutual trust, transparency, and innovation, we can surmount challenges and set new benchmarks of success,” Atuluku said.
She stressed the importance of inter-agency cooperation, reminding participants that no single agency could succeed in isolation.
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According to her, the shared mandate of safeguarding the nation, promoting trade, and ensuring safety at the airport requires synergy, mutual respect, and joint responsibility.
Deputy Comptroller of the Airport Unit, SE Ntuen, who is set to retire soon, delivered an emotion-laden farewell speech in which he praised Atuluku’s leadership style and expressed gratitude to the NCS for providing him with a fulfilling career. “I will carry the banner of the Nigeria Customs Service anywhere I go because it has made me fulfilled as a person,” he said.
The Port Harcourt International Airport Manager, Mrs. Ifesinachi Ezike, represented by the Airport Chief of Security, Chief Chiaka Ukaegbu, lamented the low cargo traffic at the airport despite the availability of modern facilities and trained manpower. She assured that the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) was making efforts to woo more cargo airlines and promised to collaborate with Customs to improve operations.
“We have state-of-the-art handling facilities, trained manpower, and a terminal building that is one of the best. We can handle large volumes of freight, yet these facilities remain underutilised,” Ezike said.
Also speaking, the Port Harcourt International Airport Chapter Chairman of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Charles Onyema, called for stronger commitment from all stakeholders to restore the airport’s lost glory. He pledged the association’s support for effective cargo clearance and revenue growth.
“Our leaders have failed to tackle bottlenecks hindering smooth cargo operations. This silence is unhealthy for the region’s economy,” Onyema warned.
Sister agencies including the Nigerian Air Force, Nigeria Immigration Service, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Marine Police, and terminal operators were also present to receive Comptroller Atuluku during her visit.
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