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The Nigeria Customs Service Kwara state on Friday sensitize stakeholders including textiles, shoes, veils and market women associations on the importance of continuous border closure in the Country
Comptroller Mohammed Uba Garba the Coordinator Joint Border Operations Drill sector 3 Ilorin Kwara State, on Friday met with the stakeholders in an interactive session.
In a press release made available to the public by the Public Relations Officer of the chapter, Chado Zakari, the interactive session was held in both English and Yoruba languages where the Coordinator reminded the stakeholders that the border closure was to encourage local farmers, local industries to strive and provide job opportunities for our teaming youth.
Zakari added that the Comptroller told the stakeholders that border closure was aimed at providing security to the Nation, saying if the environment is not secured, revenue generation and collection will be a mirage for Nigeria Customs Service and the Nation
The release further stated that “The meeting was convened to reemphasize his mission in the sector which is to enforce federal Government directives and policies on partial border closure, that movement of persons with a valid travelling document from 6.am – 6 pm is still in enforce.
Garba warned the association not to patronize or sell smuggled goods and advised textile materials dealers buying their goods from Kano to always have a copy of Single Goods Declaration Form (SGD) used and paid for their goods from the original importers to avoid their goods being seized
The Coordinator sought assistance from the association to partner with the sector by embarking on sensitization program of their members which is capable of dissuading smugglers, those patronizing them and those who work against the interest of the Country
He stated further that Section- 147 of Customs and excise law gives power to Customs officers to search and raid any premises suspected to be housing Contraband goods, as such any shop, company or house identified to be stock with Such goods will be prosecuted by the law guarding it
Garba stated that in line with the president’s transformation agenda especially in the area of security the service has essentially keyed into protecting the borders from infiltration of mass destructive and dangerous weapons
“He listed the achievement of sector 3 since the closure of the Border which includes: reduction in smuggling of illicit arms used for terrorism/crime, illegal drugs, and Sub-standard foods with the potential to cause health hazards and reduction in human/Child Trafficking and illegal migration
In addition, he said that border closure has reduced the quantity of PMS consumed daily in Nigeria by about 10 million litres, which he presumed to be the average quantity of PMS usually smuggled from Nigeria daily into Other countries. The coordinator recorded the seizures of 12,225 bags of rice, 252,000 litres of PMS, 6,617 litres of AGO, 177 Vehicles, 80 Motorcycles,166 Illegal Migrants and 11Illicit weapons. Said the exercise also recorded seizures of goods estimated at N703,746,780.80 monetary value within the same period. He Advised and warned smugglers to relocate to other border Communities or stop the act of smuggling and do legitimate work for a living or be caught and go to jail.
