By Sabiu Abdullahi
The Nigeria Customs Service Technical and Hangar Services Limited (NCT&HSL) successfully held its maiden Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Tuesday, 18 February 2025, in Abuja.
The event brought together key stakeholders from the aviation, customs, and public sector logistics industries to discuss operational development and expansion strategies.
Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, commended the company’s achievements, stating, “It is evident that the company has made significant strides in this short period, surpassing its achievements in the preceding year. The company’s future prospects are even more important to us.”
He also expressed confidence in the company’s investments, noting, “On my way back from Ilorin yesterday, I made a quick visit to the hangar and saw how busy it was. This underscored that we are investing in the right direction”.
The Ministry of Finance has expressed interest in further investing in the company, which is expected to provide fresh capital, expertise, and networks to drive growth.
Adeniyi noted, “As the majority shareholder, our expectation is that the company will continue to grow as a profit-yielding entity, providing value to our stakeholders and shareholders”.
The Managing Director of NCT&HSL, Capt. Kuhi Mbaya, highlighted the company’s role in modernizing customs operations and reiterated its commitment to balancing workforce competence with financial prudence.
“We are strategically employing qualified and competent staff while keeping a watchful eye on our salary overheads so that we do not overextend our financial capabilities,” he explained.
The company is adopting smarter financial strategies for maintaining equipment, exploring cost-effective alternatives such as leasing or collaborating with other organizations to share resources.
Mbaya assured stakeholders of the company’s commitment to operational excellence and financial sustainability, stating, “We continue to seek innovative ways to optimize our expenditure while maintaining the highest safety and compliance standards”.
At the closing session of the AGM, the board appointed new auditors and reappointed directors after due consideration.
The meeting set the stage for long-term planning, including upgrading aircraft maintenance facilities, improving ground handling services, and expanding the NCS fleet to support customs enforcement operations.