By Uzor Odigbo
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has said that it would collaborate with other security agencies in the country to carry out effective policing of the land borders across the country.
This is as a result of the Federal Government’s ban on importation of vehicles through the land borders which will take effect from January 1, 2017.
The Controller, Federal Operation Unit (FOU)), Compt. Haruna Mahmoud gave the hint in Lagos today also said the service was up to the task of successfully manning the porous borders. He added that security is not the job of only one person, hence the need for synergy.
He assured that the service had the wherewithal in ensuring that policy of theFederal government is implemented.
He exuded confidence that with synergy in place, especially with the Nigerian Army, curbing of smuggling of vehicles from the land border would be achieved.
Comptroller Haruna said that moves were afoot to work with other security agencies ahead of January 1st deadline adding that the government would succeed with team leaders collaboration of all respective security agencies of the government.
According to him, smuggling is a global phenomenon which cannot be curbed entirely but can be brought to its barest minimum.
He added that the service had the personnel and equipment to executive the policy of government on the ban of vehicles from land borders.
The customs chief also called on the general public to assist the government to fight the menace of smuggling, considering the economic diversification effort of the Federal Government which was for good and well being of all Nigeria.
He stated, “When I came here in October, the first people that helped me on the operation of intercepting 11 containers are the army.
“The army has been of assistance, so also the police, therefore on the ban of importation of cars from land borders will be a collaborative effort from all security agencies come January.
On assuming office in FOU, I have been able to collaborate with the army and policy and this is the avenue we are looking at come January.
“Our relationship has been cordial the team leaders of the respective agencies and I have been working together,” he added.
The brigadier commander and Commissioner of Police and Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corp are all working together to implement government policies, they need us and we need them”,he added.
“You will agree with me that smuggling is a global phenomenon,which cannot be curbed entirely but can be brought to the barest minimal”
The unit has also sealed up not fewer than six large warehouses, over various infractions by their operators. One of the warehouses has 23,000 bags of imported rice hidden in it.
Mahmud also indicated that his officers within the past two months of October and November 2016 recorded several seizures, whose Duty Paid Value (DPV) amounted to a whooping N325,053,085.
In addition to a recovery of N286,623,853 from duty payments and demand notices on vehicles, and other general goods which tried to beat the system from the Seaports, airport and border stations in the guise of false declaration and shortage in duty payments.
Pointing out that the efforts of the Command indeed cuts across other strata, Comptroller Haruna further highlighted that his officers also intercepted 1,300 parcels of Indian hemp, and arrested three suspects, whose names were given as Itobo Egede, Munirudeen Ekumopali and Aremu Hameed, all of whom have now been handed over to the NDLEA, Lagos State for prosecution.
