Accolades as Customs Chief Bows Out
One of the finest officers in the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and the immediate past Customs Area Controller (CAC), Eastern Marine Command (EMC), Comptroller Usman Kankara Bello is leaving the service this month due to statutory retirement.
His retirement is hinged on the fact that he has spent the mandatory 35 years meant for personnel in the civil service across the country.
The erstwhile CAC, EMC who had over the years played a think-tank role for the NCS, had during the period of his career brought to bear his wealth of experience in the different postings he held sway in the service.
Popularly called U.K Bello by his admirers, the Customs Chief was a foremost Public Relations Officer (PRO) in NCS and a prolific writer. He remains a household name in the maritime industry as a result of his exploits during his hey days as PRO.
It is on record that he exploited great public relations prowess that gave birth to modern day public relations practice within the service today. He was indeed loved by all and sundry, as he was a binding factor between the service and the media.
Bello has come a long way. He was enlisted as a cadet officer into the NCS on August 9, 1982 as Assistant Superintendent of Customs after the compulsory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme. His place of primary assignment was at Oshimili Local Government Area, Asaba in the then Bendel State.
He bagged his Bachelor of Science Honours (B.Sc.) in Political Science from the famous Ahmed Bello University (ABU), Zaria in June 1981.
After a successful training as a cadet officer in the Customs Training College, Ikeja, Lagos, he was posted to Borno State Area Command, Maiduguri where he began his career. While in Borno State, he served in various border stations such as Kirawa, Banki, Baga-Doro. He served as the Officer-in-Charge in these stations. It is on record that it was while he was in Baga-Doro that he imposed duties on smoked fish coming from the Republic of Chad through the Lake Chad water ways. It was also while he was in Borno State Command that he served in the Headquarters patrol team as well as Legal Seat before he was posted to Nigeria’s premier port, Apapa in 1987.
Apart from the Customs formations in Borno State, Apapa, Lilypond, Tin Can Island Port, Post Clearance Audit (PCA) and Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Command, Bello also served in NCS Headquarters, Abuja.
He also served in Nigeria’s busiest border station, Seme near the Republic of Benin. Other commands that Bello served include Kano/Jigawa, Sokoto/ Kebbi/Zamfara.
Charkin Maritime Academy (CMA) has taken off with the admission of fresh cadets for its various programmes in preparation for the 2017/2018academic session.
Owned and operated by a leading provider of maritime, offshore and oil and gas safety training courses, Charkin Maritime and Offshore Safety Centre, the school is situated in the Rivers State capital, Port Harcourt.
The management of the academy in a statement signed by its Rector, Dr. Egben Okore, said CMA is a maritime institution established to provide sound, excellent and competitive maritime education and training for Nigerians and other nationals in line with the STCW 2010 (Manila Amendments) Regulation II/1 paragraph 2.5 and III/1 paragraph 2.4.
According to the statement which was obtained by THISDAY, the CMA is committed to the development of manpower for the Nigerian maritime industry through qualitative maritime education and training. Programmes offered by the academy include several courses in Nautical Science and Marine Engineering.
The Rector explained that the Nautical Science programme in the academy will lead to the award of a National Diploma in Nautical Science and eligibility to enroll for the Certificate of Competency (CoC) qualifying examinations for officer in charge of a navigational watch on board sea-going ships.
Similarly, the National Diploma in Marine Engineering programme in CMA will lead to the award of National Diploma in Marine Engineering and eligibility to enroll for the CoC qualifying examinations for officer in charge of engineering watch on board sea going ships.
Apart from academic requirements, Okore explained that cadets in CMA are expected to be medically and physically fit.