Elder E. J. Harrison is the National Coordinator of Nigerian Customs Christian Fellowship, (NCCF). He was among the officers recently elevated in the Service to the position of a Comptroller. Reflecting on how his career journey has been, elder Harrison noted that God’s grace is what he has relied upon which has brought him to the position he is now. Speaking on his plans for the NCCF in 2024, the newly promoted officer stated that the same grace is going to empower him, equip him with more grace, wisdom and understanding to know what to do, when to do it and how to do it right.
Excerpts:
Congratulations sir on your recent promotion as Comptroller in the Nigerian Customs Service, can you introduce yourselves?
My name is Elder E. J. Harrison and by the special grace of God, I am the National Coordinator of Nigerian Customs Christian Fellowship, (NCCF). Recently, we were elevated in the service, I was a Deputy Comptroller but now I have been promoted to a full Comptroller in Nigerian Customs Service.
Sir, you were in Integrity Christian Assembly International Cathedral to give thanks to God, what prompted your decision coming from Abuja to Integrity Christian Assembly, Lagos State, to give thanks when there are churches in Abuja?
This church and this location is very important to us because the founding coordinator of NCCF, on retirement continued with the ministry and it is appropriate for me as the third National Coordinator to come to where we have our founding leader, to thank God who has sustained and kept us thus far.
Infact, it was with him that we walked through storms and trials during our years in service together and in the ministry. So it will be inappropriate for us not to come here as he continues to intercede for those of us who are still in the service that when God has done something good for us, we have to come back to whom we know is one of our own to come and appreciate God and to know that the fire on his alter still works and speaks in our favour.
Can you reflect back on how you got into Customs Service and did you envisage that you will get to your present position when you joined?
It has been the Lord’s doing, incidentally I did my National Youth Service with the Customs Service and after the service, it wasn’t more than five months before the process of enlistment came and God took us through and we got here. Well, by his grace God is on top, he is the one that brings about elevation and promotion, everybody that enters through the will of God knows that he’s bound to get to the top, and through the will of God we have gone through several divisions, several positions, several ranks, and then we are today at the top of the career rank. Every other thing after this rank is an appointment, but for this one God has lifted me to where l love to be and I am grateful to God.
Sir, you must have faced challenges before arriving at this position, how were you able to surmount the challenges?
The grace of God has been sufficient for me o! Every prayers and support from the family, friends and stakeholders who were with me in times of trials, challenges and celebrations has generated the heartfelt gratitude to God Almighty today.
There are young officers aspiring to get to your present position, what is your advice to them from your experience?
From my experience, I want them to follow the footsteps of those of us that have passed through the frontlines. And the same God that has seen us through is faithful enough to see them through. I encourage them to remain faithful.
You must have learned something from the new Customs General because your recent elevation came in his tenure, what have you learnt professionally that is aiding you?
The new CGC has been a friend, he has been one of those that have worked in several divisions of the service, especially the one that relates well with the public. So, we learnt our ability to relate, to interact, to share with people and to work in harmony and shared synergy with other services. You know in our job of generating revenue, we cannot do it alone, there are people that are licensed to operate with us, there are merchants, bankers, industrialists, manufacturers and because he has been relating with these people over the years, he is well able and informed to take the service to the next level, with all these people in good synergy and that is why we are having good results even as he is at the helm customs affairs.
As a man of many parts, you are the National Coordinator of NCCF, what have been your achievements since you mounted the leadership of NCCF?
God has enable us to continue faithfully with our standardized programme, bordering on security and other issues that affects every other person, God has been faithful enough to give us grace since we took office as National Coordinator to make sure that all our scheduled activities and programmes have been organized appropriately, and better. We have also been able to have new members coming in as Customs are bringing in fresh officers, the two training colleges we know have resource persons on ground to groom them on the way of the Lord and to work with justice and honesty in line with the motto and vision of the NCCF in raising Godly people to build a Godly service.
What inspired your commitment with NCCF, travelling to spread the word of God to over 30 States of the Federation?
In life you have people that God has placed as destiny helpers from my family, my wife is my backbone. Infact, she is always on her knees for me. Then in the service, I have mentioned some people that we look up to who were mentors to us, as we follow and walk in the path of righteousness. Now, in terms of relationship with the stakeholders, you will see that there are some people at one time or the other God will place them at appropriate positions to be a helper and be those that will help attend the purpose God made you to where you are. And so I recount that in all circumstances. lt has been God that gave me direction or through His servant really positioned me or really assigned me, or really located me, energised me in one way or the other to be what I am today, to the glory of his name.
What is your future plan for NCCF as God has elevated you, as the saying goes, to whom much is given, much is expected from?
You have already said it now to whom much is given, much is expected. God’s grace is what I rely upon, and he is going to empower me, equip me with more grace, wisdom and understanding to know what to do, when to do it and how to do it. It has been God that gave me direction on what to do. He gives me revelations directly to me or through his servants, and with that we worked according to the word of God. He is always with us. And he never fails us. His spirit is ever present with us. And so we rely on that and I don’t expect to be disappointed, and he expects us to accomplish the goals that we have set up for the year and beyond to his glory.
What are your activities for this year in NCCF as the National Coordinator and words of appreciation to people that came to celebrate God’s favour upon you and others?
Our programme for this year has been published in the National Calendar of the events. We will have the 1st Ministers Conference this Quarter at Kaduna, 2nd ministers’ conference in August at Calabar, prayer concert in October at Lagos, We will accomplish all to His glory
I really want to appreciate every one that has come to sow, and to appreciate them as they come to rejoice with us at this moment. Rejoicing shall not cease from their office, home and family, the miracle of elevation and promotions shall be their portion in Jesus name. Amen.