Compt. Mohammed Garba, Controller, Federal Operations Unit, FOU, Zone A, Ikeja, of the Nigeria Customs Service, who by any matrix, can be called an anti-smuggling czar, has vowed not to relent in the national assignment of ridding the country of contraband items, describing smugglers as economic saboteurs who are bent on circumventing the law. Interestingly, he has an unending catalogue of seizures and arrests made within his zone.
He has always held on to the philosophy that you can never succeed as an anti-smuggling officer by mere saying smuggling is bad and smugglers are dangerous to our national economic growth. You must try to show example by fighting it head-on and putting your life on the line to show that you can die for this course. This anti-smuggling czar whose antecedents are record breaking at Federal Operations Unit, FOU, Zone A, Ikeja when it comes to customs operations wondered aloud that while a good number of well meaning Nigerians are appreciative of government efforts to rid the nation of corruption in all its ramifications, some smugglers are unrepentantly bent on circumventing the lofty mission for their selfish interest. A believer in optimum delivery wherever he serves. Compt. Mohammed Garba, enumerated the obvious consequences of smuggling to the nation’s economy and her citizenry especially when it has brought unspeakable grief and sorrows to those caught and members of their families.
He described the seizures made by the eagle-eyed officers of the unit under the recently introduced new operational policy of the service led by Col. Hameed Ali (Rtd), Comptroller General, NCS to maximize revenue generation for the nation and also ensure a stronger, more oriented, vibrant and efficient customs service as gallantry. While the government is putting all the necessary measures in place to sanitise the nation’s export market, Compt. Garba appears to have found an answer to the rot at the ports in Lagos and the land border stations in the south west geopolitical region. Compt.Mohammed Garba, who has shut the door against corrupt Customs officers and agents has deployed fierce looking officers to the re-invigorated roving team of the Command.
The FOU, Zone “A” roving team, which is now being headed by a seasoned anti- smuggle czar CSC.Okpabi Charles Jack, a Chief Superintendent of Customs who is regarded in agents’ circle as a “mad dog” because of his insistence that the right thing must be done , has done a similar job when he was the officer in charge of Customs Patrol Team at Eleme- Akpajo axis, Port–Harcourt under FOU, Zone “C”, Owerri. Infact, when CSC. Jack Okpabi was at FOU Zone “C”, Eleme- Akpajo axis as Patrol head, Jack and his men put on tough look in dealing with the dubious agents and their importers ,a lot of seizures was made by his team then . So the Grassroots Publishers online are not surprise that since he mounted the saddle, the Benue -born senior officer has moved in full swing with his men to sanitise the sea ports, airport and land border stations under FOU, Zone “A”.
This proactive team had a rough battle with agents in its strive to clear the mess at the seaport, airport and land border station. Two weeks ago one of the warehouses used in stocking second hand clothing was sealed by the team in Lagos. One of the suspects was said to have reached out to his contacts in the Presidency to intimidate the team but was disappointed. The suspect who had the mistaken impression that Jack, the head of the roving team would be hiding his identity from public view when he reached out to some top government functionaries was surprised when the tough talking officer showed him his name tag on his uniform. It was then, it dawned on him that there must be a big masquerade beating the drum for the roving team and indeed, Hameed Ali, a retired Colonel and Comptroller General, NCS, is the big masquerade that is beating the drum for Compt. Mohammed Garba, and his men. The FOU, Zone “A” Customs boss, praised his men for a major seizure that had been made by the team in the recent time which was a lexus jeep of a travelling big fish. The journey was terminated by Jack’s men because the man could not produce the necessary Customs papers. He had protested that he bought the jeep from COSCHARIS but that was how far he could go. Compt. Mohammed Garba, has matched his words with action going by the directive to his proactive roving team of Jack and his men to work towards crippling smugglers and getting them out of the illegitimate business. The team had latched on the Comptroller’s directive to impound of recent six, “40” containers carrying different goods ranging from used tyres, used tubes, iron folding chairs, wooding cabinets, Nati cheese, Chocolate water biscuits, packages of theatre seats, mould plastics to wooden chair legs. The items were imported in commercial quantities. The Duty paid on the containerised cargoes was put at about N450 million while the DPV of the goods, as assessed by the Valuation Department was put at N1.6 billion. The teams have not allowed any of their suspects to escape. This is evident going by the arrest of 17 of them. Of the 17 suspects, seven who were said to be carrying general goods, had been firmed released on bail and another four who were involved in vehicle imports also granted bail. This brought the total number of suspects granted bail to 11. Despite granting bail to some of the suspects, six of them who had case to answer are still in detention pending the determination of their case in court. The setting up of this roving team headed by CSC. Jack by the comptroller has paid off as some released cargoes have been impounded for circumventing the government fiscal policy. Some dubious agents think that the visit of ANLCA officials to Compt. Mohammed Garba would slow down the activities of roving team personnels but unfortunately they have to do a rethink because CSC. Jack Okpabi that the Grassroots Publishers Online know very well at Customs Patrol, Eleme-Akpajo axis has no room for compromise as he has flung his door open to the public to avoid being accused of holding secret discussion with any importer or agent. Presently, some dubious agents have resorted to blackmail against the officials of Zone “A” and sending threat text messages to them for serving this nation. We appeal to our proactive Compt. Mohammed Garba, and his men not to relent in the national assignment of ridding the country of contraband items, describing smugglers as economic saboteurs who are bent on circumventing the law .
