The Customs Area Controller (CAC) of the Western Marine Command (WMC), Nigeria Customs Service, Comptroller Patrick Ntadi, has pledged his full support for the upcoming 2025 edition of the MARAN Annual Maritime Lecture (MAMAL)—the flagship event of the Maritime Reporters’ Association of Nigeria (MARAN).
The lecture is scheduled to take place on August 27, 2025, at the Four Points By Sheraton Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos.
During a courtesy visit by MARAN’s Executive Council on Monday, August 4, 2025, Comptroller Ntadi expressed his enthusiasm for the event, describing its theme as “germane and critical” to addressing the rising cost of goods in Nigeria.
Earlier, Comptroller Ntadi who took the MARAN executives on a tour of the command showcased what he has been able to achieve in just over two months of assuming duty at the command.
The first visible facelift that greets any visitor to the command is the new look of the command.
The fence and edifice are wearing a fresh coat of paint while a befitting signpost is under construction at the junction leading to the command.
Also, the once dilapidated surroundings—marked by shanties and security vulnerabilities—have been cleared and remodeled.
This transformation has not only boosted the morale among officers but also projects a professional image befitting a strategic Customs outpost such as the Western Marine Command.
‘The presence of the shanties and activities of suspicious elements milling around the shanties pose a serious security risk, so, the first thing we did was to clear the shanties after giving those encroaching on the property a month’s notice to quit’ he ventured.
The jetties at the Command are also been given a face lift with the ongoing renovation and cconstruction with workers working round the clock to deliver the job on time.
Also, a befitting office complex is being constructed by the Customs management under the leadership of Comptroller General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, with Comptroller Ntadi expressing optimism on the completion of the project before the end of the year.
Comptroller Ntadi is also leaving no stones unturned in the fight against smuggling activities.
He disclosed that a few days ago, 503 bags of rice were seized and six boats used in smuggling the rice were also arrested by the command along the Badagry axis.
Earlier, the President of the association, Mr Godfrey Bivbere expressed the readiness of the association to accord the Comptroller with the needed support to assist him achieve success on his mandate.
“MARAN is committed to fostering a mutually beneficial relationship with the command to enable it deliver on it’s mandate.
“We are willing and open to work with the command,” he said.