[dropcap]S[/dropcap]muggling is not a new way of life in any part of the world. Nations down through the stream of time have had on one occasion or the other need a way(s) to curb smuggling. There is no nation through that can claim to have successfully curbed its entirely smugglers and their unpatriotic notorious acts. But in recent time, this act has become a regular feature of life in Nigeria and Nigerians in their increasing numbers have been calling on the governments and citizens to do this or that to save them from this curse that can lead to a retardation of the much needed industrialization take off. The Federal Government has set up several policies to tackle this menace. Nigeria Customs Service on its part is fighting relentlessly and endlessly towards making sure that this cankerworm eating our economy is reduced to the barest minimum.
Recently, Comptroller Mohammed, Aliyu, A, the Customs Area Controller, Seme Command, has re-stated his commitment in combating and confronting the hydra headed monster of smuggling head long that has assume a threatening dimension to the socio-economic development of Nigeria. The Comptroller while taking stocks of seizures made daily by the command disclosed that he remain undaunted to accusations from different quarters that are ignorant or not knowledgeable about customs laws “that he arrest everything that comes into Nigeria’’. He reassured genuine stakeholders that they have no course to fear unless the non-compliant ones that have skeleton in their cupboard.
Highlighting further, the professional investigator who combined his investigative skill with enforcement experience to achieve the unprecedented feat restated his uncompromising stand in order not to drag his heard earned reputation and integrity to the mud.
The Customs Area Controller who has been suddenly nick named as “Mr do the right thing” for his onslaught against prohibited items insisted that he cannot stop seizing contrabands and non-compliant goods that refuse to adhere to the law of the land thereby undermining the policies of the federal government of Nigeria that the Nigeria Customs Service stand to enforce at the border.
In his narratives, the Customs Area Controller stated that the Command seized over six hundred (600x50kg) bags of rice with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of over N10m on the 26th of March, 2018 after destroying a total of over (2800x50kg) bags of expired rice the same day with a total DPV of over N49m. Another seized truck with Reg. No XE-634-MUS disguised to be empty was arrested based on intelligence and discovered to be carrying about 1,514 cartons of imported Tin tomato with a DPV of N8,175,600.00 on the 24th March 2018.
Commenting on the daily seizures that have become a recurring decimal and a routine in the command, Compt. Aliyu said that a visit to the warehouse of the command which is almost filled up to the brim, an attestation that the Nigeria Customs Service, Seme Command, is not resting on its oars in generating revenue, facilitating legitimate trade, suppressing smuggling and protecting the territorial integrity of Nigeria through due diligence in the use of effective and operational fixed scanner machines at the border command. Restating his resolute stand, the Customs Area Controller noted that he is not ready to shy away from his responsibility as far as deliberate perpetrators remain recalcitrant violators of the federal government policies.
The Customs Area Controller warned that seizure will continue to be the hall mark of the command and his enforcement officers will continue to do the needful against the unrepentant smugglers. However, the customs helmsman stressed that all his achievements is attributed to the mutual consultation and cooperation with the host communities who do share intelligence with the Command, and the cooperation of the sister security agencies who synergize and collaborate with the Nigeria Customs Service for effective border management. He disabused the mind of the public who are quick to mention Seme border to any incident of smuggling seen along Lagos metropolis. He categorically stated that any smugglers who previously before now operate through Seme route will definitely affirm that change has come to Seme. Though a trial may convince who ever doubt.
