By Uzor Odigbo
Joseph Attah, an Assistant Controller of Customs, is National Public Relations Officer for Nigeria Customs Service and spokesman for the Joint Operations by Nigeria Security Forces at the country’s borders code named ‘Exercise Swift Response’. Attah spoke to journalists recently in Lagos, saying the operation is directed at addressing security concerns like banditry, smuggling, illegal migration and other vices, contrary to some thinking that Benin Republic is target for the exercise. Excerpts…
Q: Could you please tell us what is going on at the borders.We heard there is closure?
Attah: Closure is not the right word to use here. There is indeed intensive patrol by joint security forces that is ongoing along our border routes with particular reference to unapproved routes which smugglers are taking advantage of, preventing proliferation of weapons and checking movements of illegal migrants who attempt coming in to the disadvantage of our national security and economy. Like we said earlier, it is being coordinated by Office of National Security Adviser (ONSA). That is a brief about what is ongoing.
Q: How long is this supposed to last?
Attah: It will go on for some days. By the time we have gotten our acts together and the reason for the exercise is achieved, it will be called of. Anyone who lives in Nigeria or follows our affairs will know that in recent times there have been cases of insurgency, increase in kidnapping, increase in use and abuse of controlled drugs, smuggling of weapons which contributes to general insecurity.
Every responsible government will put its muscles together to address these issues for citizens’ benefits and ensure that the safety and economic well being of the country are preserved.
Q: How many agencies and how many men are part of this operation?
Attah: The Nigeria Customs Service, Nigeria Immigration Service in collaboration with the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN), Intelligence agencies and Nigeria Police are pulling human and material resources together for the joint exercise to police our borders.
We have recorded some success barely one week into the exercise. I can confirm to you that 33 illegal migrants have been arrested , 59 bags of NPK fertilizers intercepted (I hope you know NPK fertilizers are used to make improvised explosive devices), over 3000 bags of rice, petroleum products and other items have been stopped from coming into the country and seized. It’s been largely successful and we will keep ensuring that those whose acts and movements are unlawful around our borders are brought to their knees.
Q: There has been this complain that there was no earlier information before the exercise started and that some of them who had perishable goods have to suffer losses. How would you react to this?
Attah: We cannot be talking about perishable goods when national security is at stake.We did alert the public. It may not be as long as those traders would have wanted and we issued a press statement announcing commencement of the exercise. Criminals and anyone doing unlawful activities would have loved to have long notice and go into hiding before the operation. The idea behind our short notice is to catch them unawares and red handed.
Q: Do you have manpower strength and technology to man the illegal routes?
Attah: The fact that managers of national security thought it necessary to pull manpower and resources together for this exercise should tell you about the importance government attaches to the country’s security and citizens’ well being. Beyond the physical patrol, there are efforts to acquire non intrusive equipment. Every necessary action to achieve improved security is being taken.
Q: We heard Benin Republic is crying that the operation is affecting their economy. Don’t you think this can hinder trade between both countries and affect our relationship?
Attah: For some reasons, it appears that some persons are making too much reference to a particular country. For the avoidance of doubt, this exercise is not targeted at any country. The target are those who take advantage of our porous borders to perpetuate illegal acts. As we speak, the exercise is not only in the South West. It is going on in the South South, North West and North Central geopolitical regions of the country.
These zones have borders with other countries. Its not solely about Seme or Benin Republic. It is about anything that will negatively affect the security and safety of Nigerians and the country as a whole. Any country that transacts business with Nigeria and keeps to the rules should have nothing to worry about.
Q: Do you think we have security men at the borders who will keep to the rules too?
Attah: I have discovered that the escapist tendency of any critic is to talk about corruption. Who is corrupt? Who is corrupting who and for what reasons? If you are an international trader and you are importing legitimate things through the approved channels and paying appropriate duties to government, why should you worry?
If any law enforcement officer attempts to take you beyond the lawful aspects of trans border transactions, you have a right to raise the alarm. If for instance, you import a hundred units of an item and declare 30 trying not to pay for 70 units, that is an illegality on its own. As a service, I can tell you that Customs under our Controller General never spares any officer found compromising.
I am sure you are aware that some officers have been dismissed for compromising their positions or conniving with economic saboteurs against national interest. Some of them might not be directly involved in the act of smuggling but maybe in the course of carrying out examination on import or export cargoes, they did not do due diligence.
I think the important message being passed here is that the security forces of this country see themselves as one fighting a common cause. Our differences in uniform does not inhibit our togetherness in fighting criminals and criminality.We are working jointly as a team and in the interest of the country.
Q: Clearly explain aside from security, what are we achieving in the long run from all of this?
Attah: It is the desire of the federal government and Mr. President that we achieve self sufficiency in food production with local industries adequately protected to grow. Nigeria is blessed with arable land and vast human resources to grow the food we need. This operation supports that drive. We should do less, and if possible, non of food importation into this country.
If we continue to rely on foreign rice that we don’t even know how long its been harvested and kept in silos before shipping, what are we saying to Nigerian rice farmers? Are we saying they should pack and go away? Our local rice are more nutritious. The more we patronise them, the more we support that aspect of our local industry to grow and providing job opportunities for our teeming youth population.
Q: You have been seizing rice but it keeps coming.
Attah: Visit our warehouses and see the tonnes and tonnes of rice in our custody. It shows that smugglers are unrelenting. They are using neighbouring countries to bring in what we don’t want into our country. To that, we are saying NO.