(THEWILL) – The Interim Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, Maj-Gen Barry Tariye Ndiomu (rtd), has convinced the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) of the need to recruit graduate ex-agitators into its officers’ corp.

Ndiomu made this request during a courtesy visit to the Comptroller General, Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Col Hameed Ibrahim Ali (rtd), at the agency’s headquarters in Abuja.

He explained that some of the ex-agitators are very brilliant persons with either first or second-class upper degree certificates in various fields of study.

Speaking further, he added that these young men and women are acutely disadvantaged because of the peculiar environmental challenges they are exposed to in the creeks.

He stated that the lack of Internet facilities in the rural areas of the Niger Delta region is responsible for their inability to access information on recruitment exercises to the armed and civil agencies.

Ndiomu noted that the ex-agitators are very disciplined and hardworking, hence they will be very productive as service men and women.

He went further to inform his host that the men and women he is recommending for recruitment into the Customs are patriotic and highly self-motivated, therefore, they will not betray the confidence reposed on them.

In his response, Col Ali stated that the Customs will be fair to all irrespective of the state of origin.

He, however, said that the body is ready to partner with the PAP in future recruitment exercises, hopefully, before the end of this administration.

“Even though we may not grant the South South any special concessions, efforts will be made to ensure the quotas allocated to each state is filled in addition to the mandatory 4 persons per local government model of recruitment already entrenched in the system,” he revealed.

Hameed Ali promised that the agency will, as usual, be fair, just and equitable to all.

“We are always transparent in our activities so as to give equal opportunities to those who merit the chance to be engaged,” he started.

He again, assured the Interim Administrator that the agency is willing and ready to assist with security services as its marine units are located in all the Niger Delta states.