Employ more Benue indigenes, Ortom appeals to Custom boss

Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom has appealed to the Custom Service to employ more indigenes of the state and also upgrade its facilities in the state.

He disclosed this when he visited the Comptroller General, Abdullahi Dikko Inde, in Abuja.

According to him, "When you're doing recruitment please don't forget us and make efforts to upgrade your facilities in the state."

In the current economic downturn we look towards the custom service to generate the revenue that can contribute to bailing out the nation."

He said the way to go was to ensure due process and the rule of law in checking the nefarious activities of smugglers including foreigners.

The Governor expressed his determination to support President Muhammadu Buhari to back federal agencies to deliver on their mandate.

Responding, the Comptroller General, assured that with the necessary government support the service could contribute substantially to the nation’s budget.

He said he was examining the possibility of upgrading facilities at the state level for ease of operations and that the ones in Benue were included.

In a related development, the Governor also visited the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission, John-Kennedy Opara, where he pledged to collaborate with him to bring more souls to Christ.

He described the Executive Secretary as a true brother who stood with him in trying times and assured that the God who heard prayers and made him Governor would help him to overcome current challenges and get a big testimony at the end of the day.

Opara said God would give Ortom extraordinary wisdom to excel where others have failed and advised him to always remember his roots and take challenges to God in prayer.