PMB to inaugurate Nigeria Customs Service Headquarters in grand ceremony
Story from Haruna YUSUF, Abuja
President Muhammadu Buhari is scheduled to commission the Nigeria Customs Service Headquarters on Tuesday.
The state-of-the-art edifice, which is estimated to have cost N19.6 billion, is located behind the Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC) in the Maitama district of Abuja.
During a tour of the facility, Wale Adeniyi, the Deputy Comptroller-General of Customs, announced that President Buhari and other high-ranking government officials would be attending the event.
Adeniyi, who also chairs the committee overseeing the inauguration of the project, revealed that the office complex was initially proposed during the tenure of Alhaji Mustapha Aliyu as the Comptroller-General of Customs in 2002.
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He further explained that construction work began in 2007, with subsequent redesigns and modifications resulting in the impressive structure we see today.
The building consists of three main wings: two wings comprising five floors each and bridges connecting them to the central tower, which stands at 12 floors.
Adeniyi stated, “We expect President Muhammadu Buhari to commission the building, and he has kindly agreed to attend. The event will commence at 8:45 am and is expected to last for one hour. We anticipate the presence of ministers, heads of agencies, and members of the diplomatic corps with whom we collaborate.”
He emphasized that the need for this office complex arose from the increasing number of customs officers and the requirement for sufficient space and cutting-edge facilities to fulfill the Service’s mandate.
Furthermore, the facility is equipped with the necessary tools to effectively monitor border operations.