The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has appointed Comptroller Aliyu M. Alkali as the new Customs Area Controller of the Port Harcourt Area II Command, Onne. He succeeds Mohammed Babandede, who was recently promoted to the rank of Assistant Comptroller-General of Customs.
The handover ceremony, held on Wednesday, September 10, 2025, was attended by the Zonal Coordinator of Zone C, ACG Kamal Mohammed, Comptroller Salamatu Atuluku of Port Harcourt I Command, as well as representatives of security agencies, terminal operators, freight forwarders, and other stakeholders.
In his valedictory address, ACG Babandede expressed gratitude to officers of the Command, sister agencies, port operators, and freight forwarders for their cooperation during his tenure. He attributed the Command’s achievements to the strong synergy among stakeholders and urged them to extend the same support to his successor.
ACG Kamal Mohammed, in his remarks, praised Babandede for his dedication, vision, and resilience, describing his tenure as one that left “an indelible mark in the annals of the command’s history.” He wished him continued success in his new assignment and assured Comptroller Alkali of the Zone’s support.
“The task before you is both noble and demanding. We implore you to build on the solid legacies left by your predecessor while introducing fresh ideas and innovations that will further advance the mission of the Service,” he told the incoming Area Controller.
In his acceptance speech, Comptroller Alkali pledged to uphold the confidence reposed in him by the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi. He assured stakeholders of his commitment to revenue generation, trade facilitation, compliance enforcement, and public safety.
“My assignment is to ensure compliance with trade regulations, facilitate legitimate trade, collect revenue for the federal government, and protect public safety. I will consolidate on the foundation laid by ACG Babandede, but I need continuous collaboration from all stakeholders to achieve these goals,” he said.
The ceremony closed with assurances of cooperation and renewed commitment to sustaining the Command’s contributions to Nigeria’s economic development.